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Around the Bases: Week 18
Heated rivalries may surface come playoff time
By Listen DePleyohs / Baseball Tri-Weekly
Apparently, no one is Golden speaks Japanese because last week Tokyo put the hurt on the Gryphons, beating them 5-4. What makes it worse is that this is the second time this season the Oscars have beaten them, accounting for 66 percent of their win total. While there are some matchups still to be play, lets see who owns who in the EHCC.
Las Vegas and Tijuana
There is no better rivalry than one that is so lopsided that no one would consider it a rivalry if I didn’t keep bringing it up. The Hispanics have scored only 3 points in two meetings, and none of those have been for tacos
Rakeville and Weymouth
For years this matchup has gone to the island folk, but not this year. Weymouth is one of the few top teams Rakeville beat handily in both matchups, winning the first game 6-4 and the second game 7-3. If the trend continues, we could be seeing the EHCC finals with these two teams. If that happens, Shaddupu needs to figure out who to sink the Rockets.
Haverhill and Bridgewater
Something about Bridgewater makes the Swingers actually show up to the ballpark. An Opening day win over the Weasels is impressive, but the 5-5 tie that interrupted Haverhill’s 9 game losing streak. Fortunately for the Weasels, the Swingers are no where near the playoffs and Bridgewater does pretty well against the top teams.
Two of these matchups could possibly be seen in the playoffs, so time will tell.
Every game seems important these days, with nine teams battling for the six playoff spots left. This week’s theme is the haves versus the have nots, with the four bubble teams pitted against four elite teams.
QC at BIZ
Barring a complete collapse this week against Bizton, Quebec City has pretty much locked up the Western Division title for the second season in a row. Tijuana is the only team still in contention, and they would have to beat the Piglets 8-0 or better in the Week 22 matchup if Quebec City can win this week and in a few weeks versus Tokyo. It hasn’t been an easy season for the Piglets, who some considered the favorite, but taking the award should bolster the hopes in Quebec City.
Last weeks lost to the Green Monsters really slowed Bizton’s momentum. In two months, they climbed from a double digit deficit to within three games of the playoffs, but a tough lost to a key opponent this time of year is enough to end a season. If the Markies can get through this week fairly unscathed, they are in a great position to make a push for sixth.
Bizton has beaten Las Vegas, Weymouth and Bridgewater during their run, so they aren’t intimidated by the Piglets. Actually, Piglets don’t intimidate anybody… it’s a known fact.
WS at RAK
Compared to Rakeville’s 11-game unbeaten streak, Winston Salem’s 4-game winning streak seems meek, but it is far from it. The Green Monsters have responded to Golden and Tijuana at the perfect time. Outside of a recent trade for pitching, they have kept their playoff core intact from last year and could very well be the strongest team fighting for the last playoff spot.
Rakeville may just be the strongest team in the league, but don’t let the numbers fool you. One thing the Rockets have going for them is their youth, and relative lack of injuries. Aside for Nomar, their offense has been pumping on all cylinders this season while some of the other teams have been set back. While it may be too late for the other teams to catch Rakeville during the season, their may be some hidden pop left on teams counted for dead.
Winston Salem is very similar to Rakeville earlier in the season by the way they never lose or win by wide margins. This game may stay close, but the Rockets have been unbeatable and probably won’t face the prospect of defeat again until next week in Quebec City.
Tijuana vs. Golden
They are not playing each other this week, but for the next month they will battle it out with broken corona bottles. For both teams, they need to imagine the punching bag is the face of a bully and pound away.
Neither has a favorable matchup, with the Hispanics playing Weymouth and the Gryphons playing Las Vegas, but either can get away with losing if they take enough categories. In an effort to become more balanced, Golden traded away their stolen bases. This could become very costly down the line.
And Tijuana… thankfully the trade deadline has passed so we can finally take a look at his roster without someone new being on it a week later.
Transaction Wire
Quebec City is wishing they hung onto Morgan Ensberg, with Scott Rolen’s return to the Disabled List. The answer has been recently signed Ryan Freel, but with the arrival of Scott Podsednik, Freel’s value will decrease.
The Green Monsters signed rookie Dan Johnson, who is batting .318 with 6 homeruns for Oakland. For the record, that he now has as many homeruns as Edgar Renteria in only two months of limited play.
The Doggs picked up pitcher Rich Hill after a 6 inning 2 run outing Saturday. The 24-year-old rookie from Boston, Ma is expected to make at least one more start in place of an injured Kerry Wood before he is sent back down.
| 1. | Rakeville | ( - ) |
| 2. | Bridgewater | ( - ) |
| 3. | Quebec City | (+1) |
| 4. | Weymouth | (-1) |
| 5. | Las Vegas | (+1) |
| 6. | Winston-Salem | (+3) |
| 7. | Golden | (-2) |
| 8. | Bizton | (-1) |
| 9. | Tijuana | (-1) |
| 10. | Tokyo | ( - ) |
| 11. | Plymouth | ( - ) |
| 12. | Haverhill | ( - ) |
League Notes
-- In a recent marketing event, Rick Santorim from Jersi Valley, CO, beat out 430 other fans during a pushup contest, including Albert Pujols and Jason Giambi, who made surprise appearances. Santorim, a long time Haverhill fan, made it point to “Baahhhh” Pujols as he carried off the trophy.
-- Tijuana ground crews have been put to the test this season, as the heat on the southern coast of Mexico has scorched the Hispanics outfield. With artificial turf out of the question for this season, officials have begun importing sod from Yacatan. Until it arrives, there will be some dirty Mexicans in the stadium.
-- Green fees at the Bizton country club have gotten so outrageous that some players are considering building a course of their own. The consortium includes Adrian Beltre, Barry Zito, Mike Hampton and B. Kiddy, a high profile rapper who calls Bizton home. The project is in the planning stages now, but players are expecting it to be located west of Route 221 and open in late 2007.
Listen DePleyohs writes a column for Baseball Tri-Weekly. He can throw a frisbee 400 yards with his left hand.
