2000 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #25

WP: Pettitte (15-6)
LP: Sparks (4-6)
S: Benitez (21)

WP: DeJean (2-1)
LP: Brock (2-4)
S: Benitez (22)

WP: DeJean (3-1)
LP: White (3-8)

In the bottom of the 11th, Tatis Sr. leads off with a double and Bonds is intentionally walked. Gonzalez walks and the bases are loaded for Dye with nobody out. Jermaine hits into a 3-2-3 double play. Sweeney is then intentionally walked to load the bases again. Lockhart hits it to right Buford and Beltran collide and the ball hits Beltran on the head and Bonds scores the winning run from 3rd on a fluke play. The final is 5-4, Castle Rock as they have won four in a row.

WP: Benitez (4-10)
LP: Castillo (4-10)

WP: Elarton (8-11)
LP: Santana (1-8)
S: Benitez (23)

Bagwell greeted Clemens with a two out solo shot in the first. This brought a scattering of the chant, “Overrated” by the faithful who made the 4 hr trip down I-94 to Chicago. Clemens hearing the chants greeted Bichette with a high and tight one.

This set off a screaming match between the Rocket and Manager Stauffer. We don’t know how good of a Manager he may be, but one thing is clear, he is an A-Hole and wont take crap, even from future HOFer like Roger. The opposing teams hate him…hell half of his own team hates him.

One thing we have learned over the years is don’t piss off the rocket. After the boys in blue settled both teams down Clemens went to work. Throwing 7 innings of 4 hit ball and yielding no more runs.

The Demolition didn’t need much to motivate them behind Clemens as Renteria plated two with a two out hit in the 2nd and Becker followed with a double for 2 of this 3 RBIs on the day. Chicago added two insurance runs off Shuey in the 8th, but the game was over for the most part after Roger heard Stauffer’s rant and took it personally.

After the game, Chicago GM, Stray (what a stupid nickname) Corrado, tried to calm the tensions down by saying “Sometimes emotions ride high, but we are battling to clinch the Division and we wont let theatrics cloud our vision of what must be done.”

While Chicago takes game one handily 6-1, the series just became Must Watch TV for the next 4 nights. Be sure to join Frank Beckman and Fred McLeod for game two with coverage beginning at 4:45pm on ESPN 9 – The Nifty Nuevo.

Once again, the Scorpions get stung by Chicago 6-1

The Scorpions extended the lead to 3-0 on a Relaford walk, stolen base and a single by Bichette.

The Demolition got some redemption thanks to Relaford in the bottom of the 5th. A throwing error by the shortstop pulled Bagwell off first on a groundball by Renteria. The Demolition said thank you very much with a two run bomb by Becker. But the Chicago crew weren’t done yet. After getting out Higginson for out number two, the leading AL MVP Candidate Carlos Delgado tied the game with one mighty swing as he clubbed his 35th homer of the year.

It would stay that way with both pitchers settling down through the 6th.

Bernero making just his 5th start of the season gave up back to back singles to start the 7th leading Chicago to go to Rhodes out of the pen. He immediately struck out pinch hitter Young looking. After which he accentuated the out with a hearty hip thrust.

The hysterics on the mound led to another shouting match between Scorpion Skipper Stauffer and the Chicago pitching staff. Sarge gathered the team and in no uncertain terms said, bury these Mother Scratchers…

The boys got the message as Relaford said thrust this to Rhodes with a base hitting scoring one run. Bagwell followed with a double to score another. Bichette was intentionally walked and Chicago went to Jones out of the Pen. Rhodes had words with the entire Scorpion bench on his way to the clubhouse.

Pinch Hitter B. Hunter welcomed Jones to the mound with a Sac Fly making it a 6-3 Scorpion lead.

Walks to Cairo and Relaford in the 8th with two outs sandwiched in-between brought Chicago Manager to the mound to replace Jones with Aybar. Bagwell drew a walk from Aybar to load the bases. Dante Bichette, who has been on a tear since spending some cage time with his young son Bo, took the first pitch to the left center gap. The ball took a weird bounce allowing Bichette to get his 4th triple of the year as three scored making it a 9-3 game.

Chicago has too much heart and just wouldn’t go away. They staged a rally in the 9th scoring one on a Jordan throwing error. This brought out Stauffer who went to Rocker. He had a heated conversation with John as he handed him the pearl and Rocker got the message. A throw behind Marrero brought both teams to the edge of their dugouts. Rocker stared down the batter and got him to ground into a game ending double play.

In the Clubhouse after the game the Chicago Skipper had this to say, “You think you are tough screaming from the dugout? Lets see how much talking you do tomorrow. A guy named Martinez has a tendency to zip some lips.”

Certain to be this years Cy Young Winner Pedro Martinez will take the hill for the Demolition Saturday afternoon against lefty Jimmy Anderson who was just called up from AAA to make his first start of the year. Once again, the game time is 1:40 with pre-game on PASS TV beginning at 12:30 featuring Bernie Smilovitz and Al Ackerman.

Benjamin led off the game with a base hit and was immediately picked off by 2000 Cy Young Leader Pedro Martinez. When asked if he gave up the hit on purpose just to show off his new pick move Martinez replied,”no entiendo ingles” and flashed that smile of his.

For Chicago’s bats they made sure that Anderson’s nerves of starting his first game were the least of his concerns. They plated 3 runs before Anderson could even get the first out.

Down 3 to zip the Scorps tried to put rallies together, but Pedro worked out of jams in both the second and third innings.

The chances for a Scorp comeback faded quickly as the Demoliton added 3 more in the third inning and solo runs in both the 4th and 5th. Delgado continued to stake claim to the MVP this year as he added 2 RBIs and raised his batting average to .391.

Pedro ran his record to 24-2 in his 29th start of the year.

Now up 2-1 in the Series the Demolition are feeling good about where they stand while the Scorpions and their manager are a bit more subdued and definitely speaking quietly.

Things were rough for Milwood as Bagwell hit another bomb this time as the lead off batter. After a walk to Young and an infield single by O’Leary, Cairo greeted Milwood with a base hit. A wild throw by Becker allowed both runners to score and it was quickly 3-0 Scorpions.

Stephenson’s day got off to just as bad a start. Higginson put the stamp on the crappy day by doubling home two with two outs. The score after 1 inning was 3-2 Scorpions.

Stephenson continued to struggle with two on and one out Becker lofted a Sac Fly to tie the game. But it wasnt tied for long as Cirillo hit a no doubter 402 feet to give the Demolition a 5-3 lead.

In the third singles by Nevin, Higgy and Stewart led to a 6-3 score with still no one out. Van Poppel came in to try to keep things close. He got out of the jam only after a Sac Fly by Renteria made it 7-3.

That was all Chicago needed as Milwood and 3 relievers shut down any threats before they could even pop up.

The Victory ensures the Demolition will win the Series and tomorrow’s game features a very pissed off Roger Clemens. As you recall in game 1 Roger was the victor but things got heated between the two clubs. Game 5 should be a good one to watch.

Clemens started the game throwing behind Martin on the first pitch. That led to both benches clearing. After ejections to the Scorpions pitching coach, hitting coach and bullpen catcher the umpires took control of the game. Both teams were warned no more brushbacks. Roger just laughed and took the bump.

Took the bump he did cruising through three yielding just a walk to Bagwell in the first and a seeing eye groundball in the third.

In the bottom of the 3rd, a two out double by Higginson, a walk to Delgado and a hanging curveball to Johnson that he deposited into the shrubbery in deep left center. It was quickly 3-0 Chicago, with a pissed off Clemens on the mound after three innings.

Bagwell took the smirk of Clemens face when he led off the 4th with his 39th homerun of the season and 3rd in the series. A visibly shaken Clemens then gave up a Double to Bichette. He plunked the catcher Eusabio and a Young single scored another run.

With two runners on and still no outs, Benjamin was unable to lay down the bunt on his first two attempts. Left with no choice but to swing away he lined a single to right to score Eusabio. Then Delgado cut the throw home to get Benjamin trying for second, but this allowed Young to score the go-ahead run. It was now 4-3 Scorpions.

Bottom of the 4th Reynoso retires the first two Chicagoans, only to give up a double to Christensen and an infield single to Hocking putting runners on the corner. Stauffer then went to the bullpen to face the lefty Higginson.

Rocker and Higginson exchanged words and it looked like benches may empty again. With the pressure in the stadium at its peak the fans were going crazy. Rocker reached back and got Higgy looking to end the inning. Scorps 4-3 after 4.

In the fifth inning, Clemens looked more composed. Until he met Jeff Bagwell who again hit a solo blast his 40th on the year and 4th in the last 5 games. Scorps now up 5-3 after 5.

A quick 1-2-3 5th for Rocker was followed by Shuey coming out for the 6th inning. A single by Cirillo, a groundout by Renteria to move him to second, and a clutch pinch hit single by Hansen cut the lead to 5-4 after 6 innings.

Clemens came out to start the 7th. After a flyout the Chicago skipper went to the pen and called on the left Rhodes who cleans up the rest of the inning. Denny Reyes came in for Southlake who quickly dispatches Higginson, Delgado and Johnson with ease.

Chicago brings in Speier for the 8th inning. Bagwell continues to have a day at the plate by drawing a walk. After a flyout by Bichette, Eusabio hit a double in the gap. With an expected play at the plate the third base coach holds Bagwell at thirdbase.

Scorpions Manager Stauffer tabs the lefty swinging O’Leary off the bench to face Speier. Chicago counters by bringing the Lefty Cairncross in from the pen. Once he was announced Sarge dug into this bag of tricks and brings the right handed Russ Davis off the pines to swing.

But you have to get up pretty early to fool the Chicago leadership. They issue an intentional walk to Davis, loading the bases with one out. They then bring in the right handed Aybar to face Benjamin knowing Southlake had no lefty sticks left on the bench.

Sarge didnt care if he was lefty or righty as he calls for the Suicide Squeeze which Benjamin peforms to perfection after he was unable to get the bunt down not once but twice back in the 4th inning.

In Chicago’s half of the 8th, Wayne Gomes came in for Southlake to face the Demolition. He retired Nevin on a fly ball but a single by Stewart led Sarge to take out Gomes after just 1/3rd of an inning. He went to his Ace in the pen Mariano Rivera.

Stewart with good speed and the contact hitter Cirillo at the plate Chicago put on the Hit and Run. Only this time Cirillo was unable to connect with Rivera’s slider. Combined with a great throw by Eusabio the bases were suddenly empty.

Unfortunately for the boys from the Windy City, two pitches later Cirillo did connect and lined a single to right. Mariano coaxed a groundout to Renteria and the inning was over.

Southlake again put together some drama in the 9th. However, Chicago got smart and intentionally walked Bagwell rather than facing his hot stick and Zimmerman got a groundball doubleplay out of Bichette to stop any rally in its tracks.

Chicago known for their 9th inning comeback this years looked to muster one more. But Mariano Rivera who had not been used in some time was having none of that. He shut the door in the 9th earning his 25th save of the season. Final Score 6-4 Scorpions

We still dont know if Sarge Stauffer will be able to squeeze more victories out of a poor team than his predecessor was at manager, but we can agree on the general assessment by those around the league, this guy is a grade A Jack-Ass.

Bagwell went 7 for 16 in the series with 6 walks as well. He scored 6 times, had 5 RBIs and 4 Bombs total. If only some guys had gotten on base ahead of him, what could have been.

Delgado had risen his average to .391 in his quest for the elusive .400 but after going 0-6 in the last two games he has dipped to .385. The TV crews following him has to be wearing on him mentally. With these three victories Monroeville’s push for first gets more difficult but not impossible. They do face Chicago during the final 6 games of the year. That series could have a lot riding on it.

HV 1 BDB 13

W: Benes (8-3)
L: Mulder (7-16)

HV 11 BDB 7

W: Bere (3-13)
L: Harnisch (11-4)

HV 5 BDB 10

W: Johnson (22-3)
L: Miller(3-13)

HV 3 BDB 4

W: Hampton (15-7)
L: Halladay (0-10)
S: Weathers (1)

HV 0 BDB 3

W: Wells (18-6)
L: Milder (7-17)
S: Herges (8)

BUMS 3 / 8 / 3
CRABS 11 / 14 / 1
WP – Williams (11-12)
LP – Vazquez (6-8)

BUMS 14 / 16 / 0
CRABS 3 / 8 / 4
WP – Bohanon (5-9)
LP – Hudson (7-12)

BUMS 7 / 13 / 0
CRABS 6 / 11 / 0
WP – Rodriguez (8-6)
LP – Kohlmeier (2-1)

BUMS 8 / 8 / 0
CRABS 9 / 14 / 1
WP – Paniagua (4-6)
LP – Karsay (3-11)

BUMS 9 / 7 / 0
CRABS 5 / 9 / 3
WP – Blair (9-7)
LP – Dempster (14-9)
S – Sasaki (23)