1998 WORLD SERIES

PREVIEW – The MWWL World Series features NL Winner, Manhattan Gas Hornets (107-55) vs. the Corktown Bootleggers (119-43). Manhattan took on Newark in the NL LCS winning in 6 games while Corktown defeated Chicago in 5. Both teams come in fairly rested, but both teams will also be with a key player. Luis Alicea – the main Gas Hornet 3bman will be missed (hitting .284/.420/.460 – surprising plug in their offense). And the Bootleggers will be without Ramon Martinez (6-3, 2.94 era in his 15 starts). He was expected to be their “ace” in the postseason. For Corktown, this is their 1st trip to the World Series, for the Gas Hornets, it’s their 2nd, winning the whole thing in 1987!

Manhattan performed well in the NL, 3rd in scoring 939 run, Manhattan was 2nd in hitting at .286, .357 obp and .445 slugging. Power wise, they 383 doubles, 27 triples, and 184 homers. Corktown however, bested most of those stats batting /.298/.382/.517 with 361 doubles, 43, triples and 283 homers – a significant difference. And they were 1st in scoring, 2nd in batting, 2nd in pitching, and 5th in fielding in the AL. All around, the best the AL had to offer! About the only offensive stat Manhattan beat out the Bootleggers was stolen bases – 138 to 39. But we are possibly seeing the difference between the DH and non-DH, well maybe somewhat. Even in the DL AL, the Bootleggers posted better number than the Gas Hornets in the pitching category – 3.51 era to 3.57 for Manhattan. And while Corktown hit more homers than Manhattan – they also gave up fewer (140 to 165) which can be a big factor since they hit more! Manhattan has a big ask in taming the Bootlegger bats and besting their pitching, but both teams are poised to give it their best shots. Will Manhattan be able to fire things up and fly fast under the radar in their championship quest, or will the booze running Corktown Bootleggers get the better of things in the series?

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW – check out Ken’s World Series Preview!

Both starters know how to get games won and that’s why they got the nod for the opener. And they both started out strong until ….

Disaster struck for Wakefield in the 3rd! It started well with Wakefield getting Denny Hocking to fly out (well, it did take Matt Stairs to the wall). Then Ray Lankford comes up and, well, his pulled fly ball to right sailed over Stairs and the wall for a solo homer (1) and the 1st run of the series. Alex Rodriguez then fans, 2 outs. But Albert Belle does the dinger thinger, taking it deep to RF (Stairs must be wearing a magnet) and it has plenty of carry and clears just inside the pole for another solo homer (1) and a 2-0 lead. Tim is digging hole, literally and figuratively. Andres Galarraga then gaps a single and, well, you probably figured it, but Jason Giambi takes a 9 hour cab ride to the bleachers in CF for a 2 run shot (1) and the Bootleggers are off an clubbing what they do best, up 4-0 after 3. Schindel is swallowing hard in the visitor’s dugout.

Top of the 4th sees Ray Durham draw a leadoff walk. Derek Jeter then follows with a liner to RF that will be good for a lot of bases after it goes off the wall and gets by Belle. Durham rounds 3rd and scores. Jeter keeps running, he’s trying to score, the throw and relay, the play at home – OUT! A single, and error, a run and a great throw to home and the Gas Hornets net just 1. And the Bootleggers dodge a bullet as Jason Kendall then homers (1) to make it 4-2 Corktown and that was the end of the 4th inning rally. In fact, that was the end of all rallies for the rest of the game Scoring game quickly and dried up just as quick as the bullpens (and Daal for 6 innings) clamped down the rest of the way. Corktown did get some action in the 5th, but Dave Telgheder quieted it – and then as noted nothing for either team.

Final Score: Corktown 4 – Manhattan 2
Series 1-0 (CRK)

Win: Omar Daal 1-0 (3.00)
Loss: Tim Wakefield 0-1 (7.71)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #1

GAME #1 – Corktown 4 – Manhattan 2

Rick Reed tosses a great game – 6 innings, 5 hits, 3 ks, 1 walk and 1 run – a Scott Rolen solo homer (1) in the 2nd inning. And that would be the only run the Bootleggers would get as the Gas Hornets bullpen come in and give up nothing – nothing for Corktown after the 2nd. Well they did give up 4 errors during the game, but beyond all hope, those errors gave up nothing as the Gas Hornets try to even up the series.

Try!! That’s the key word here because as good as Reed and Manhattan’s pitching was – Irabu (and 2/3 inning from Ugueth Urbina were even better. Irabu made that Rolen homer stand up as he goes 8.1 innings, giving up just 3 hits – 1 walk, and fanning 6 and holding the big Manhattan offense scoreless. Then with 1 out in the 9th, Urbina comes in to face Ray Durham and grounds him out and then he fans Derek Jeter and the Corktown Bootleggers take the game 1-0 and a big 2-0 lead as the series heads to Manhattan.

Final Score: Corktown 1 – Manhattan 0
Series 2-0 (CRK)

Win: Hideki Irabu 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Rick Reed 0-1 (1.50)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #2

GAME #2 – Corktown 1 – Manhattan 0

The series moves to the Big Apple with Corktown holding a nice big 2-0 advantage and they will come out with Steve Parris on the mound looking to go to a commanding 3 game lead. The Gas Hornets need something to click to get back into a series where they have had a total of 6 hits in 2 games (3 in each).

Top of the 1st and Alex Rodriguez gets things going for Corktown with a 1 out double. 1 out later Andres Galarraga walks and the threat is alive, especially after Matt Morris plunks Scott Rolen in the elbow. However, that plunk did knock him out for the rest of the day, Corktown will reevaluate Rolen’s status before tomorrow’s game. That brings up Brian Jordan with the bases filled with Bootleggers but Morris gets him to pop out and the threat dies. In the bottom half, Ray Durham opens with a slow roller that ARod has to rush and his throw is wide and Durham reaches on the E6. Derek Jeter up and they start Durham and Jeter grounds out moving Durham to 2nd. Jason Kendall then follows lining one up the middle for a single and Durham scores – so the Gas Hornets get off the schneid early for a 1-0 lead. But that all they can muster in the 1st.

We move to the 3rd still 1-0 Manhattan and ARod leads off with a walk, Morris is having control issues. Albert Belle up and Alex Rodriguez takes off for 2nd and Kendall cuts him down for the 1st out. Then Belle strikes out. But Andres Galaragga draws Morris’s 4th walk of the game and it will prove costly as Gary Gaetti (in for the injured Scott Rolen) doubles scoring Galarraga to tie the game! Manhattan looks to get it back in the bottom half after Durham hits a 1 out double and Jeter follows with a walk. But Steve Parris buckles down and gets Kendall to pop out and Tino Martinez to ground out to end the threat, 1-1 after 3.

Morris issues continue in the 4th as Corktown heats up. Brad Ausmus (hitting a big .500 after his 2 hit performance in this game) leads off with line drive single to LF. Denny Hocking follows with a ball pulled down the RF line into the corner and he races around the bases, ends up on 3rd with an rbi trile and Corktown grabs a 2-1 lead. Manhattan pulls the infield in with pitcher Steve Parris up for the Bootleggers – he steps in, lines one, but Morris snares it for the 1st out. Then Morris fans Ray Lankford and looks for an escape. And he gets it when ARod flies out to Matt Stairs in left – EXCEPT – Stairs can’t get to it and it drops in for an rbi single and a 3-1 Corktown lead. Morris then walks Belle for his 5th walk and Schindel has had enough Morris for the day. Ricky Bones comes in for his 1st WS stint, and it’s a good one – he fans Galarraga for the final out (and his only batter of the game). The bottom half starts with Matt Stairs lining one into RF for a single. Then with 1 out and 1 swing, Garrett Anderson ties the game with a big 2 run homer (1) to RF and just like that we at 3-3.

Carlos Reyes in to pitch for Manhattan in the 5th and gives up an Ausmus single, but that it. In the bottom half, Kendall gets a 1 out single, steals second and when Stairs gets a 2 out walk, Parris is sent to the locker room in favor of lefty Jason Christiansen in a double switch. On his first pitch, instead he wheels and turns and fires to 2nd to pick off Kendall but instead fires it into CF. Kendall moves up to 3rd, and Stairs heads for 2nd and Brian Jordan fields the ball, fires to ARod and Stairs is out! Just like that, Christiansen worked some strange magic to end the threat and it remains 3-3 after 5.

Top of the 6th after a 1 out single by Lankford, Reyes is replaced by Dave Telgheder. With ARod up, Lankford steals 2nd. Then Alex Rodriguez falls victim to the whiff for the 2nd out. And Schindel thanks Telgheder for his work and calls on Brian Moehler to come in and face Albert Belle. Good call – Belle lines out to Tino Martinez at 1st to end the top half. In the bottom half, Gregg Jefferies leads off gets an infield single. Then he steals 2nd (5 total SBs this game, 2 for Corktown, 3 for Manhattan). Garrett Anderson then flies out to RF and Jefferies moves to 3rd. Then after a K, Mark Whiten comes in to PH for Moehler and Jose Paniagua comes in to relieve Christiansen. He pitches to Whiten who hits a hard grounder to Gaetti, but it hits off his shoulder for an E5 and Jefferies scores! Gas Hornets benefit from small ball to take the lead 4-3 after 6.

In the 7th Mike Williams enters and gives up a 2 out double to Brian Jordan but he’s stranded. Paniagua continues to hurl for Corktown and he gets a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th. In the 8th after getting the 1st 2 batters, Williams walks Lankford and Schindel calls on Matt Mantei to get the 3rd out. After Lankford steals 2nd to get into scoring position, Mantei gets ARod to pop out to end the threat. Dennis Cook comes in for Corktown in the 8th and gets the 1st two but then Garrett Anderson singles and Ed Giovanola taps one to the left of 1b, Galarraga gets it, tosses it to Cook – SAFE – and it’s ruled a hit. So that gets DeMercurio’s adrenalin pumping some more and he brings in Turk Wendell to try and get the final out. Matt Franco comes in to PH and Wendell wins the battle getting him to ground out to short.

So we move to the 9th – the Gas Hornets swap some outfielders for better defense and bring in their closer John Wetteland. He starts by fanning Albert Belle, 1 out. Then Galarraga looks like the 2nd out on a slow grounder to 3rd, but Giovanola trying to make the perfect play, drops it on the transfer and it’s ruled a hit. Then Gary Gaetti, filling in admirably for Scott Rolen, hits his 2nd double of the game lining one over 3rd. Trent Hubbard (in for defense in the 9th) chases it down, Galarraga is being waved home, Hubbard’s throw, and it’s perfect and Galarraga is nailed easily at the plate for the 2nd out! Brian Jordan comes up trying to drive home Gaetti to tie it up, but he bounces to Jeter at short for the final out – and the Gas Hornets hold on (barely) to win it game 3, 4-3 and get 1 back in their quest.

Final Score: Manhattan 4 – Corktown 3
Series 2-1 (CRK)

Win: Brian Moehler 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Jason Christiansen 0-1 (0.00)
Save: John Wetteland #1

GAME #3 – Manhattan 4 – Corktown 3

Manhattan has a chance to tie the series, but they go up against Omar Daal who pretty much tied them up in game 1. Tim Wakefield will be seeking redemption – he only had 1 bad inning in game one, but it was a 3 homer nightmare.

And is the nightmare continuing? In the 2nd, Scott Rolen, back from his beaning injury yesterday, leads off the top of the 2nd smashing his 2nd homer of the series and the Bootleggers are up 1-0. How will Wakefield respond? He gets the next two, but then Brad Aumus continues his hot hitting smashing a double off the right center field wall. But then the NL rule causing pitchers to bat gets in Corktown’s way as Omar Daal comes up and flails away for a big K to end the top half. In the bottom half, the Gas Hornets appear to have figured out Daal – at least Trent Hubbard and Garrett Anderson do. Hubbard leads off with double and then Anderson drives one to right center than clears the fence for his 2nd homer of the series, a 2 run shot that gives Manhattan a 2-1 lead. Omar then settles in and that’s where it ends in the 2nd.

The 3rd, 4th and 5th go scoreless with the pitchers pretty much in complete control, in fact Wakefield continues his strong stretch into the 6th and he’s mowing down a lot of Bootleggers. Daal isn’t giving anything away either until Matt Stairs catches one with 1 out in the 6th and parks deep, deep to the seats in left center for a 3-1 Manhattan lead. Wakefield then gets a 1-2-3 7th and ends his day with 7 inning, 3 hits, 2 walks, 7 ks and just the one run.

In the 8th, Ricardo Rincon comes in and gets Corktown in order. Roberto Hernandez comes in for Corktown and Derek Jeter greets him with a leadoff double. Jason Kendall then flies out to Albert Belle in RF, Jeter tags and Belle unloads it big time and nails Jeter at 3rd for a DP! And it was a good thing for Corktown as Tino Martinez follows with a single. Dennis Cook enters and gets Stairs to ground out ending the 8th and keeping it 3-1 Manhattan.

Manhattan, looking at the state of the bullpen, decides to keep Rincon in for the 9th. Belle leads off and ground out. Andres Galarraga then bangs one deep to left center that gets past Garrett Anderson. Galarraga keeps going, the 3rd base coach is waving him home. Anderson’s throw to Jeter is then relayed home – perfect strike, Galarraga is out at the plate. For the 2nd game in a row, Manhattan nails Galarraga at home in the 9th inning! That’s a rarity! So with Scott Rolen due up, Manhattan calls on an itchy Mike Maddux (on the roster replacing Luis Alicea) and Maddux gets 1 batter – Rolen – and he fans him to save the game and tie up the series with a 3-1 Manhattan win!

Final Score: Manhattan 3 – Corktown 1
Series 2-2 (Tied)

Win: Tim Wakefield 1-1 (3.86)
Loss: Omar Daal 1-0 (3.00)
Save: Mike Maddux #1

GAME #4 – Manhattan 3 – Corktown 1

With the series tied 2-2, this is a pivotal game as historically the team that reaches a 3-2 advantage usually prevails, especially if they host the next two. So the Gas Hornets have a lot of work cut out for them. The Bootleggers are sending out Game 2 hero, Hidecki Irabu, who blanked Manhattan on 3 hits the 1st time around. Rick Reed also pitched well, but fell victim to the Irabu buzz saw.

So, what do the Bootleggers do? They start with a leadoff homer from Alex Rodriguez (1)! Ray Lankford then singles and steals 2nd (his 5th of the series – the Bootleggers have sprouted wings). Scott Rolen and Albert Belle then pop out and Andres Galarraga complete the 3 outs with a blooper to Ray Durham. So the Gas Hornets get a big scare, but then Reed settles in.

Irabu starts off by walking Durham, but then nothing. And he gives up nothing in the 2nd or the 3rd! Reed is doing the same thing for Manhattan and it’s still 1-0 as we get to the 4th. Galarraga gets a 1 out single, but nothing comes of it. And Tino Martinez gets a 2 out single for the Gas Hornets 1st hit of the game followed by a Matt Stairs infield hit, but that too is fruitless. The 5th inning produces 6 batters and 6 outs, only thing of significance is Rick Reed is pinch hit for so Mike Williams will be coming in for the 6th.

So, Ray Lankford leads off the 6th with a single and he steals 2nd, again, his 2nd of the game and 6th of the series. Scott Rolen then grounds one up the middle that Jeter fields cleanly but he tosses it right past Martinez at first and Lankford comes all the way around to score to make it 2-0 Corktown. Albert Belle then walks but Williams pitches out of the jam by getting Galarraga on fly out to RF, Rolen tagging to 3rd and then Brian Jordan hits into the inning ending DP.

Ray Durham then leads off the bottom half of the 6th with a double. Derek Jeter follows with his own double scoring Durham. Tino Martinez then singles scoring Jeter and the game is tied 2-2 as Manhattan finally solves Irabu. Martinez moves to 2nd on a balk but Matt Stairs whiffs and Gregg Jefferies flies out, so the 2-2 stands after 6 innings.

1 out in the top of the 7th, Brad Ausmus (who ends up batting .417 by the end of this game) singles with 1 out to LF and takes 2nd when Stairs misplays it (2nd Manhattan error in the game). Jason Giambi in to PH for Irabu and Ricardo Rincon in to pitch to him. Giambi pops out, 2 down. Ricky Bones is then called on to pitch to Alex Rodriguez and his first pitch sails over Jason Kendall‘s head and Ausmus moves to 3rd. Then Bones gets what he’s looking for as he gets ARod to ground out to Durham – EXCEPT – Durham’s flip to 1st is wild and bounces into the dugout – Ausmus scores, ARod to 2nd. 3rd Manhattan error and the Bootleggers grab the gifted lead, 3-2. Then Ray Lankford comes up and gets another clutch single scoring ARod for a 4-1 Corktown lead and that’s where we stand at the 7th inning stretch. 2 unearned runs for Corktown gives them a late lead. Bottom half, Jason Christiansen comes in to pitch and he gets one and then Turk Wendell comes in for the other 2 batter (both pinch hitters) and it’s still 4-2 Bootleggers.
Bootleggers get a walk and SB in the 8th but nothing else. Wendell dispense Durham to start the bottom half then he gives the ball to Jose Paniagua who gets the other 2 outs (with a Kendall single mixed in there).

So we go to the 9th, Bootleggers working to take the lead going home and the Gas Hornets showing some desperation. After a leadoff walk to Brad Ausmus, Dave Telgheder comes in to pitch for Manhattan against pinchhitter Gary Gaetti and he flies out. Brian Moehler then comes in and gets ARod but Ray Lankford again singles, infield variety so it’s 2 on, 2 out. Scott Rolen hits a grounder to Ray Durham – and he boots it – his 2nd error in 3 innings and 4th for Manhattan in the game and the bases are loaded! Ellis Burks in to PH for Bernard Gilkey and he connects but it’s just a flyout to Stairs to end the top of the 9th. Bottom half, Sal Fasano in to catch (and throw out any runners) and Ugeuth Urbina is back in to pitch. After getting Stairs and Jefferies, Garrett Anderson works a walk bring Trent Hubbard to the plate as the tying run. The pitch, hit’s grounded toward 3rd, Scott Rolen fields it, flips to 2nd and the runners is out and the Bootleggers take this one 4-2 by virtue of the 2 run gift in the 7th. But it gives them the big 3 games to 2 lead as the series moves back to Corktown!

Final Score: Corktown 4 – Manhattan 2
Series 3-2 (CRK)

Win: Hideki Irabu 2-0 (1.26)
Loss: Mike Williams 0-1 (0.00)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #3

GAME #5 – Corktown 4 – Manhattan 2

Back to Corktown with the Bootleggers looking to close it out and the Gas Hornets looking to stay alive and force a game 7.

Ray Durham feels the weight of the situation on his shoulders after his big fielding blunder in game 5 and he tries to rectify things with a leadoff double in game 6. But Steve Parris fans Derek Jeter, gets Jason Kendall to pop out and strikes out Tino Martinez to retire the side. And that was the 1st. In the 2nd Gregg Jefferies gets a 1 out single, steals 2nd but dies their on the vine. Bottom of the 2nd, Matt Morris fired in a wicked 3rd strike on Andres Galarraga – he took exception to the call – and was tossed! That ended up bringing in Gary Gaetti to replace him. And the inning ends with the score still knotted at goose eggs.

3rd inning action, Ed Giovanola leads off with a walk, but that’s all that Manhattan could get. But in the bottom half, Brian Jordan leads off with a blast into the right field seats for a solo homer (1) and a big 1-0 lead for Corktown. And that proves to be the end of the scoring for awhile – quite awhile.

The 4th through 7th see no runs. However, the bottom of the 4th is worth mentioning for the possible future implications. Albert Belle leads off flicking one to RF for a single. Gaetti then bounces one to Morris who throws it past Tino Martinez and Belle gets to 3rd, Gaetti on 1st (and another Gas Hornets error!). Scott Rolen then walks to load the bases. Jason Giambi up (back to the land of the DH) and he hits one to CF that’s a tough play for Garrett Anderson. He heads toward the wall, catches up to it just short of the track and takes it in. Belle tags, the throw to the plate – and they just get him for the DP and 2 outs. Brian Jordan then steps in and he walks!! Bases loaded again, this time for Brad Ausmus. Matt Morris still on the hill and he fans him for the 3rd out to preserve the 1-0 score. Bootleggers dugout is showing some serious disappointment.

But Parris hangs in there, well at least for 2 more batters. He walks Orlando Mercer to start the 5th and then when Ed Giovanola attempts the sacrifice, the Bootleggers get Merced at 2nd. Then Dwight Gooden is called on to quiet things down. This is Gooden’s first appearance in the series. Durham hits one up the middle that ends up an infield single, but then Gooden gets Derek Jeter to ground into a DP to end the inning. Bottom half excitement was a Ray Lankford leadoff double but he’s nailed at 3rd trying to make it a triple. 6th inning excitement was Vic Darensburg coming it to relief Dwight Gooden after Gooden gives up 2 2 out walks. And it works when he strikes out Garrett Anderson. Bottom half sees Morris hitting Gaetti in the leg, but he stays in the game. 7th inning nothing!

On to the 8th and DeMercurio is looking to close it out and he’s calling for Ugueth Urbina for a six out save with the score still sitting at 1-0! Bold! So he starts by fanning Derek Jeter, then he gets Jason Kendall to groundout to SS and Tino Martinez to ground one to short for the 3rd out. Working so far… The bottom half gets some action when Alex Rodriguez gets a 1 out walk off Matt Morris followed by an Albert Belle infield single off Morris’s leg and that’s it for Morris as Schindel calls for John Wetteland. There’s no tomorrow if they don’t win today. Bernard Gilkey in to run for Belle and that brings up Gary Gaetti (who entered the game early when Galarraga was ejected). Wetteland checks the sign, fires it in, and Gaetti launches a drive that falls between Matt Stairs and Garrett Anderson, ARod scores, Gilkey scores and Gaetti ends up on 2nd with a big 2 run double (not bad for the fill-in) and Corktown takes a huge 3-0 lead. But Wetteland wasn’t finished hitting Corktown bats, Scott Rolen then hits one down the RF line for a single, Gaetti holds at 3rd. Jason Giambi up and he flies out to Mark Whiten in RF and Gaetti tags and scores on the SF and in a heads up move, Rolen takes 2nd. It pays off when Brian Jordan follows with an rbi single making it 5-0. Wetteland was having one of those ugly appearances. But the Bootleggers finally make a 3rd out, so it’s on to the 9th.

Matt Stairs leads off against Urbina and flies out to Jordan. Gregg Jefferies then pops out to 2nd and that brings up Garrett Anderson. Urbina fires in, Anderson grounds it to 2nd, Denny Hocking fields it, tosses to Gaetti and the game and series is over. Corktown wins 5-0 and becomes the 1998 Midwest Winter League’s World Series Champions!!!!
Congratulations to Chris and the Bootleggers squad. The hometown crowd swarms the field in celebration of their first title – and now they expect many more!

Final Score: Corktown 5 – Manhattan 0
Series 4-2 (CRK)

Win: Doc Gooden 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Matt Morris 0-1 (4.91)
Save: Ugueth Urbina #4

GAME #6 T– Corktown 5 – Manhattan 0

SUMMARY – The series turn out to be a lot different than expected. The Bootleggers, who muscled their way through the AL, chose to run, and run, and run in the series with 9 stolen bases (in 10 attempts). They used the Gas Hornets tactics – although they still hit 7 homes (3 of them in 1 inning in game 1). But pitching was a dominant factor in this series – the Bootleggers as a team hit just .228 and Manhattan managed only .176. As a recap, the Bootleggers bullpen pitched 16.1 innings and gave up 1 UNEARNED run – they were 1-1, with 4 saves and a 0.00 era! Ugueth Urbina was a close consideration for MVP with his 4 saves in 4 appearances and 5 innings (no hits)! But the WS MVP award goes to (drum roll) …. Ray Lankford. Lankford was 8 for 21 (.381) with a double, homer, 2 runs and 2 rbis. He also walked 6 times (an OBP of .519!) and he was a constant thorn in the side of the Gas Hornets. He also stole 6 bases (in 6 tries). He had some good company – Andres Galarraga hit .368, Gary Gaetti, the super fill-in, hit .333 and tied for the team lead in rbis with 3. And Brad Ausmus turned it up hitting .313.

Congratulations go out to the Manhattan Gas Hornets and Bill Schindel for getting them to the series and putting up a good showing. Schindel and DeMercurio were discussing the fact that if the Bootleggers had used their running prowess during the regular season, they might have won 140+ games. And again a big congratulations to Corktown and Chris DeMercurio on their win and they get the WS Pennant and the WS RINGS!!

World Series MVP – Goes to Ray Lankford.