Welcome to Cincinnati: THE GRIFFEY YEARS

[jshaw]

excellent dynasty, hope Griffey can get that ring and go out on top.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

jshaw: Thanks man - me too!

***

2008 ALCS
Seattle Mariners vs. Chicago White Sox

GAME 1
October 9, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 1    7 15  0
      Mariners (SEA) 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0    2  8  1

Starters: J. Stewart vs. N. Carlson
WP: J. Stewart - 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
LP: N. Carlson - 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
SV: H. Street - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: None

The Mariners and their fans were coming off an emotional high after winning their series against the Yankees – Josh Stewart and the Chicago White Sox offense made sure their crash was a hard one. Stewart combined with closer Huston Street to hold the Mariners to just 2 runs, while the Sox chipped away at the Mariners pitching staff for 15 hits and 7 runs as the visiting club stole home-field advantage away from the best team in the American League.

GAME 2
October 10, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0    5  5  0
      Mariners (SEA) 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0    3  5  0

Starters: Z. Miner (4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) vs. D. Pauley
WP: C. Janssen - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
LP: D. Pauley - 5.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
SV: H. Street - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HR: L. Niekro, A. Gonzalez, M. Ordonez

David Pauley’s postseason nightmare continued in Game 2. With his Mariners leading 3-0, Pauley gave up a leadoff walk, and followed that up by surrendering a home run to Andy Gonzalez. Pauley walked the next batter, and Magglio Ordonez followed that with a homer. When the bullpen got into the game, Lance Niekro capped the inning with a solo shot of his own. Let’s recap: 1 inning, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 runs. Casey Jansenn, Dewon Day, and Street combined for 4.2 innings of 2-hit relief, effectively shutting down the Mariners offense, and putting Seattle in a 0-2 hole heading on the road to Chicago.

***

White Sox RP Casey Janssen out until July 2009 with torn ACL.

***

GAME 3
October 12, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
      Mariners (SEA) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0    3  5  1
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 4 0 3 3 x   10 15  1

Starters: G. Meche vs. C. Young
WP: C. Young - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
LP: G. Meche - 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
HR: K. Griffey, L. Niekro, R. Langerhans, J. Borchard
Stars: R. Langerhans (3-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB), L. Niekro (4-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 0 SB)

This was ugly. The White Sox offense exploded for 3 runs against 3 different Mariner pitchers, and despite Junior’s late 2-run home run, the Mariners looked lost en route to a 3-0 deficit.

GAME 4
October 13, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
      Mariners (SEA) 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0    4 10  1
     White Sox (CHW) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0    2  9  0

Starters: E. Volquez (3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) vs. J. Fogg
WP: J. Mateo - 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
LP: J. Fogg - 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
SV: G. Sherrill - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HR: D. Bell

The Mariners’ motto heading into the game was “All Hands On Deck”, and they needed everything to hold off the White Sox. 4 relievers combined for 5.2 scoreless innings, giving the Mariners’ offense to rally from an early 2-0 deficit and win the game. Alex Rodriguez showed his first signs of life in the series, recording his first 2 hits after going 0-12 to start the ALCS.

GAME 5
October 14, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
      Mariners (SEA) 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0  6 11  1
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 1  7 13  0

Starters: N. Carlson (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) vs. J. Stewart (3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K)
WP: J. Hill - 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LP: T. Clippard - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
HR: D. Bell, T. Bohn, K. Griffey, R. Langerhans
Stars: Y. Betancourt (4-5, 3 R, 1 RBI, 0 SB)

With nothing to lose, the Mariners came out swinging. Junior started the scoring with a 2-run blast in the 2nd inning, and David Bell hit a 2-run shot of his own in the 4th. When the White Sox came back to tie the game, T.J. Bohn hit the team’s 3rd 2-run homer of the game to regain the lead. Just when it looked like the series was about to travel back to Seattle, tragedy struck as AL Saves Leader George Sherrill gave up a one-out home run to Ryan Langerhans to tie the game at 6 and force extra innings. The White Sox didn’t wait long, for in the 10th inning, Yuniesky Betancourt led off with a single and was bunted to second base. He would score one out later on Andy Gonzalez’ pennant-winning base hit into right field, sending the Mariners’ 2008 season to a watery grave.

Chicago White Sox defeat Seattle Mariners, 4 games to 1
MVP: White Sox 1B Lance Niekro - .450/.522/.850, 2 HR, 6 RBI
LVP: Mariners SS Alex Rodriguez - .100/.182/.100, 0 HR, 1 RBI

***

Chicago Cubs defeat Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 3
MVP: Cubs SP Carlos Zambrano – 16 IP, 1-0, 1.13 ERA, 20 K, .179 BAA

***

[Jeffy25]

how's my guy doing now?

[jshaw]

the Arod we all know and love

damn, hope Griffey plays another year lol

[metsguy234]

How have the Mets been doing in this game?

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Jeffy: Hope you don't mind, but you're going to have to wait - until the end of his career. I'm gonna get everybody's CAP stats out after I finish up with Griffey - he is the main focus, after all...

jshaw: Indeed - even in alternate realitys, A-Rod sucks in October!
I can personally guarantee you that Griffey plays in 2009 - as for 2010, he is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season...

metsguy: Surprisingly like real-life; they've been a solid middle-of-the-road team since 2003, but never quite able to break through.
Best Season - 2006 (90-72, NL East Champions)
Worst Season - 2002 (71-91, 5th NL East)

***

WORLD SERIES 2008
CHICAGO WHITE SOX vs. CHICAGO CUBS

GAME 1
ONE WAY STREET
CL Huston, SP Zach Miner 4-hit Cubs; White Sox lead series 1-0

October 20, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
          Cubs (CHC) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0    1  4  0
     White Sox (CHW) 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 x    3  6  0

Starters: C. Zambrano vs. Z. Miner
WP: Z. Miner - 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 K
LP: C. Zambrano - 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
SV: H. Street - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
HR: D. Ross

GAME 2
HARRIS-MENT
SS Brendan lifts Cubs with 2 HR, 3 RBI; Series even as scene shifts to Wrigley

October 21, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
          Cubs (CHC) 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0    4  6  0
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0    2 10  0

Starters: J. Nation vs. C. Young
WP: J. Nation - 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
LP: C. Young - 6.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
SV: W. Ohman - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: B. Harris 2, S. Fuld, L. Niekro

GAME 3
MITRE MIGHTY
SP Sergio K’s 11 Sox over 8 shutout innings; Cubbies take 2-1 Series lead

October 23, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1    1  7  1
          Cubs (CHC) 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 x    6 14  0

Starters: J. Fogg vs. S. Mitre
WP: S. Mitre - 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
LP: J. Fogg - 4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: J. Borchard, H. Pence
Stars: M. Murton (4-5, 1 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB), H. Pence (2-4, 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB)

GAME 4
RUBEN RULES
SP Quevedo allows 3 hits over 8 innings; Cubs in control with 3-1 Series lead

October 24, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     White Sox (CHW) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0    1  3  0
          Cubs (CHC) 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 x    5 10  1

Starters: J. Stewart vs. R. Quevedo
WP: R. Quevedo - 8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
LP: J. Stewart - 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
HR: None

GAME 5
THREE-PEAT!
Cubs dynasty reigns supreme again

October 25, 2008

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     White Sox (CHW) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0    2  6  0
          Cubs (CHC) 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 x    5 11  1

Starters: Z. Miner vs. C. Zambrano
WP: C. Zambrano - 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
LP: Z. Miner - 2.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
SV: W. Ohman - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: B. Harris

MVP: Cubs SS Brendan Harris - .533/.650/1.333, 3 HR, 6 RBI
White Sox Offense – 32/151 (.212), 1 HR

***

[5DiMaggio]

Just read all 51 pages. There's only one way I can describe the dynasty, addictive

[Kobie]

Just read all 51 pages. There's only one way I can describe the dynasty, addictive

It is rather crack-like.

You know what else is addictive? Crack.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

5dimaggio: Haha, thank you. If you need a note from your family or boss as to why you haven't been around, I can vouch for you!

Kobie: Thanks, I guess? Although it makes a nice slogan...
THE GRIFFEY YEARS - it's Crack for your eyes!

***

AL MVP: Rangers 1B Mark Teixeira - .283/.380/.566, 43 HR, 135 RBI
AL CY: Orioles SP Lance Broadway – 15-5, 2.86 ERA, 139 K, 47 BB, .244 BAA
AL ROY: Red Sox 2B Jose Lopez - .317/.365/.518, 22 HR, 103 RBI
AL GG: Twins SP Arnie Munoz (1), Devil Rays C Dioner Navarro (1), Yankees 1B Frank Catalanotto (3), Mariners 2B David Bell (2), Athletics 3B Eric Chavez (5), Mariners SS Alex Rodriguez (6), Blue Jays OF Carlos Beltran (2), Athletics OF Tommy Murphy (1), Lions OF Dan Ortmeier (1)

NL MVP: Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez (2) - .305/.363/.582, 44 HR, 156 RBI
NL CY: Cubs SP Sergio Mitre – 19-3, 2.31 ERA, 173 K, 31 BB, .208 BAA
NL ROY: Astros RP Chris Britton – 10-1, 1.35 ERA, 74 K, 26 BB, .170 BAA, 86.2 IP
NL GG: Brewers SP Bobby Keppel (1), Pirates C Yadier Molina (1), Giants 1B Will Thompson* (1), Brewers 2B Ryan Theriot (1), Giants 3B Alex Gordon (1), Cardinals SS Michael Young (1), Cardinals OF J.D. Drew (1), Padres OF Xavier Nady (1), Dodgers OF Kelly Johnson (2)

ASG MVP: Orioles CF Val Majewski – 4/5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI
WS MVP: Cubs SS Brendan Harris - .533/.650/1.333, 3 HR, 6 RBI

* - Created Player (Coach Owens)

***