Sticking Points 2034.19: So Close, So Far

[aaronweiner]

The Rockville Pikemen didn't expect to be in the Cartwright Cup this year, but when they got there, it was destined to be a competitive series. They and Havana were equally matched, and the series followed that path right down to the final inning. Rockville was eliminated in the 10th inning after scoring in the top of the inning, and it doesn't get any closer than that.

"So close, and yet so far," said hard-luck Game 7 starter Arthur Dempster, who lost a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when catcher Francisco Flores sent a throw sailing into center field on a steal attempt, allowing the runner to later score on a sacrifice fly. "We needed a little more and we didn't get it, and that's a tough way to be knocked out."

It was a strange series, as Rockville closer Fernando Marquez managed to lose all three games for the Pikemen (after saving the first two) while giving up a ghastly 10 runs in five innings. Marquez has been one of the top closers in baseball, and if he had managed to close out even one of those games the Pikemen would be in the Landis.

"I'm going home and crying for three days," said Marquez, who saved 44 games this year, second in the JL. "I can't believe that I had the season I had and then let my team down this way."

Of course, like so many of these Pikemen who are mature beyond their years, we forget that Marquez wasn't even legally allowed to drink at the beginning of last season, and that it was his first playoff experience. Chet Rouse took some of the blame for the Marquez disaster as well.

"Listen, I'm going to say this right now: I think I overused Fernando in this series," said Rouse. "He's been so great and so dependable that I think I ran him out there every chance I got, and I'm going to take a long look at that kind of thing this offseason."

While Rockville certainly looks like a contender in 2035, a few questions will linger in the offseason for the Pikemen. Dusty Rhodes is likely leaving via free agency after a dominating performance leading the league in batting. Rockville will likely have a number of new players to integrate next year; will they be able to maintain their strong performances throughout a whole season? And, will key performers Bob Coleman and Yi-ke Zang come back healthy?

"We're not thinking that far ahead right now," said Jin-song Xuan, who won the Cartwright MVP in defeat. "We just know this loss is going to bring us together as a team."

[usnspecialist]

i know i said this before, but that was a helluva series. Only one of the games was never really in doubt in the later innings.

[aaronweiner]

A fantastic series. I went to bed before it was simmed but woke up about 1 AM and just kept reading. Goddamn classic really. I hope you win your first title.

[RonCo]

Nice write-up.

[usnspecialist]

A fantastic series. I went to bed before it was simmed but woke up about 1 AM and just kept reading. Goddamn classic really. I hope you win your first title.

i missed it as well, saw it when i woke up at 6 am to prep for the flight this morning and experienced pretty much the same thing.