2053.6: Championship Autopsy

GM: Fred Holmes

Moderator: Rubaboo

User avatar
Rubaboo
BBA GM
Posts: 2187
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 9:09 pm
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 320 times

2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Rubaboo » Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:26 am

The 2053 season ended with a thud for the Mexico City Aztecs, as the team quietly bowed out in 5 games to the Sacramento Mad Popes. The Popes pitching overwhelmed the Aztecs, never letting their offense get into any kind of rhythm. The only offensive players who were effective in the Championship series were Roelof Klooster and Felix Roman.

Klooster had an extraordinary series, winning series MVP in a series that his team lost in 5 games (this has to be a first) by posting a 12 for 19 line in the 5 games, hitting 4 homeruns and 3 doubles, scoring 6 runs and batting in 4. The team scored 15 runs all together in the series, Klooster was directly involved in 10 of those. Hard to ask for more than that.

Roman wasn't 2052 playoff Roman, but he was certainly very good in the playoffs. The Popes mostly kept him out of position to do much damage by keeping the bases clear in front of him and, even with Klooster being an impossible out in front of him, Roman could only muster 5 hits in the series. His hits were big ones, 3 of them were homeruns, but there just didn't end up being enough support to let Roman really do damage.

Outside of Klooster and Roman, the offense was essentially invisible, wearing a path in the grass between the batter's box and the dugout. Nixon had a home run in Game 2, and Kerfoot chipped in in Game 4, but the Aztec offense that scored runs in bunches against Rocky Mountain and Phoenix was nowhere to be found against Sacramento, evidenced by the fact that the team only scored more than a single run in two innings in the series, the bottom of the 6th in Game 3 and the bottom of the 4th in game 5, both in losing efforts.

The pitching side of the equation was a little better, but not great. Playoff Carlos Olivas continues to be the best Carlos Olivas, as the 29 year old finished the playoffs without a blemish on his record en route to a 0 ERA. Corfield was good enough in Game 1 but got out dueled by Joe King before looking rattled in Game 5, getting pulled after 4 innings with only 2 strikeouts against 4 walks. He finished the postseason 1-4 with a 4.71 ERA. Constable was ok in Game 2 before an error, a walk, and two singles in the bottom of the 6th ended his night. He was pulled with the bases loaded, replaced by Derrick Chaney who promptly gave up a grand slam. Olivas pitched Game 3 and was excellent with help, as the Aztecs won 5-0. Arthur Dunn got shelled in Game 4, allowing 7 earned in a tidy 3 innings. The bullpen was mostly fine. Chaney pitched alot and continued the shaky form he displayed since coming over at the deadline from Yellow Springs, he allowed the grand slam and threw two wild pitches in Game 5. The rest of the pen was fine, the only other reliever to allow a run was Takahashi in the ninth inning of Game 5.

It was weird watching the series unfold. I like this team. I still like this team. I'm still unpacking how to feel about the series as a whole. It really felt, for the most part, like we were just totally outclassed which doesn't really jive with the results I was expecting to see. I thought it would be a close series, some tight, low scoring affairs won by the Popes and some games where our offense surged to earn the W. What we got was a flaccid effort that took a Herculean contribution by Klooster and a great outing by Olivas to even make it to Game 5. All respect to Shoeless, (seriously, congratulations bud, we're all glad you stuck around) but it kind of feels like we got OOTP'd here. The game just decided it wasn't going to be our series so it wasn't. Frustrating, but what can you do? Just gotta roll my sleeves up again and start marching back to the top of the mountain.
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA

BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052

User avatar
Dington
GB: Recruiting & Development Director
Posts: 4817
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:06 am
Has thanked: 2074 times
Been thanked: 1147 times
Contact:

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Dington » Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:32 am

I wouldn't say this was a case of being OOTP'd here. Sacramento is a great team top to bottom. The two best teams met in the finals. Can't ask for much more. But I understand the frustration.
Image
Nashville Bluebirds GM
HOW I BUILD A WINNING TEAM <---Click
Kuwait City GM 2042-43
2043 UMEBA United Cup Champion*

User avatar
Rubaboo
BBA GM
Posts: 2187
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 9:09 pm
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 320 times

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Rubaboo » Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:40 am

Dington wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:32 am
I wouldn't say this was a case of being OOTP'd here. Sacramento is a great team top to bottom. The two best teams met in the finals. Can't ask for much more. But I understand the frustration.
Not trying to convey sour grapes or take any credit away from Shoeless, I love the way he built that team. It was just very strange to see the results come up the way they did after watching the team all season. Could be that the Popes' staff and defense is just that much better than anything we faced, they were certainly prolific. Just didn't seem like my boys had it during the series.
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA

BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052

User avatar
Dington
GB: Recruiting & Development Director
Posts: 4817
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:06 am
Has thanked: 2074 times
Been thanked: 1147 times
Contact:

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Dington » Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:01 am

Rubaboo wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:40 am
Dington wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:32 am
I wouldn't say this was a case of being OOTP'd here. Sacramento is a great team top to bottom. The two best teams met in the finals. Can't ask for much more. But I understand the frustration.
Not trying to convey sour grapes or take any credit away from Shoeless, I love the way he built that team. It was just very strange to see the results come up the way they did after watching the team all season. Could be that the Popes' staff and defense is just that much better than anything we faced, they were certainly prolific. Just didn't seem like my boys had it during the series.
Reminds me of the '52 finals :lol:
Image
Nashville Bluebirds GM
HOW I BUILD A WINNING TEAM <---Click
Kuwait City GM 2042-43
2043 UMEBA United Cup Champion*

User avatar
Rubaboo
BBA GM
Posts: 2187
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 9:09 pm
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Has thanked: 200 times
Been thanked: 320 times

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Rubaboo » Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:05 am

Dington wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:01 am
Rubaboo wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:40 am
Dington wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:32 am
I wouldn't say this was a case of being OOTP'd here. Sacramento is a great team top to bottom. The two best teams met in the finals. Can't ask for much more. But I understand the frustration.
Not trying to convey sour grapes or take any credit away from Shoeless, I love the way he built that team. It was just very strange to see the results come up the way they did after watching the team all season. Could be that the Popes' staff and defense is just that much better than anything we faced, they were certainly prolific. Just didn't seem like my boys had it during the series.
Reminds me of the '52 finals :lol:
Ha. Fair. I'll quit griping now. Again, congrats to Shoeless. If I had to lose there's no one I would rather have lost to.
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA

BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052

User avatar
Dington
GB: Recruiting & Development Director
Posts: 4817
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:06 am
Has thanked: 2074 times
Been thanked: 1147 times
Contact:

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by Dington » Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:15 am

Gripe away. I hate OOTP most times lol.
Image
Nashville Bluebirds GM
HOW I BUILD A WINNING TEAM <---Click
Kuwait City GM 2042-43
2043 UMEBA United Cup Champion*

User avatar
BaseClogger
BBA GM
Posts: 1254
Joined: Sun May 08, 2022 8:55 am
Has thanked: 1081 times
Been thanked: 294 times

Re: 2053.6: Championship Autopsy

Post by BaseClogger » Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:02 pm

The phrase “OOTP’d” seems to be used in this league in a way that minimizes the randomness inherent in the sport of baseball. Ya just got “baseball’d”.
San Fernando Bears GM since 2051

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Mexico City Aztecs”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests