Tuber Times 2058.41: Sim #17 Recap - NO,ROC,MEX

[cheekimonk]

Tuber Times
19 July 2058
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney

Boise Spuds 56 52 .519 -8 DIV -5 WC L10: 3-7 Strk: L2

The Spuds have just nosedived since going into the All-Star break 2 games back of the lead in the Frontier Division and owning the last Wild Card. An 8-16 month of July will do that. It's hard to see a path for Boise to climb back to those lofty heights although the schedule does turn back to intra-divisional play for the remainder of 2058. Sim #17 was kind of mind-boggling in that Boise's pitchers just collapsed. We're talking about a team 1st in runs allowed and 3rd in both starters and bullpen ERA going 2-5 in a Sim in which they allowed over 5 runs/game. The cast of characters is essentially the same outside of Boise trading for SP Danny 'Padfoot' Leach after losing SP Jeremy Nickerson. Yes, that's a HUGE dropoff in one rotation spot but it doesn't explain the collective implosion.

@ New Orleans 10-6 W
Boise began Sim #17 with the last game of a 4-game set at home vs the Crawdads. Neither team's pitching was presentable, although a late burst of runs against New Orleans RP Jason Nelson was arguably the worst blow, so it came down to offense. The Spuds took that challenge and were led by 3B Mahine 'Dragnet' Karetu who went 3-for-4 scoring 3 times and logging a 2-run HR. They also got a 2-run homer from LF Sebastian 'Nino' Fradesso and star CF Lou Bayou went 3-for-4 scoring 3 runs.

@ Rockville 4-6 L
@ Rockville 7-8 L
@ Rockville 0-9 L
@ Rockville 2-1 W
Boise then hit the road for a Rockville series that the pre-All-Star break Spuds could have counted on to be very competitive. It wasn't. The Pikemen skulldragged Boise pitching and the offense had no chance to catch up. SP Danny 'Padfoot' Leach took the bump for the opener and really wasn't terrible allowing 3 runs in 4.1 innings, but walking 4 batters is not good. The Boise lineup was tied up by former Spud P Logan Hill tossing 3 innings of shutout ball in relief. The next game was a complete collapse by heretofore reliable lefty SP Matt McCartney who was ambushed for 3 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings and the Spuds were down 6-2 in a blink of an eye. The offense had a late surge but couldn't overcome the early hole. Boise did get 2 RBI from 3B Karetu, C Sergei Bobrovsky, and DH Alfonso Rúbio. The third game was just...wow. The Pikemen went with a bullpen game and Boise had no answer managing only 5 hits. Boise ace Doug Eckhoff, the All-Star with the sub-2.60 ERA, had his first horrible outing of the year and it was a doozy. The righty surrendered 5 runs in 2.1 innings, walking 4, and was followed by reliever Ed Noble allowing 3 runs on 3 hits in the 8th frame. Rockville 1B Manuel Salinas ate his Wheaties and pounded the Spuds with 3 hits, including a grand slam, and 5 RBI. Boise came into the finale looking to salvage something from the trip and the pitchers finally answered the bell. SP Marvin 'Groucho' Winston spun 6.2 innings of 1-run ball in the pitchers' duel with young CL Mario Santos converted his 12th save in as many opportunities since being called up in late June.

@ Mexico City 3-4 L
@ Mexico City 0-3 L
Boise now turned its attention to divisional play kicking off with a trip south of the border. In the opener, the Spuds ambushed Mexico City SP Campbell Honshorst for 3 runs in the 1st, but that's all Boise could manage. Which was fine until the 6th inning when SP Mario Reyes and reliever Paul 'The Hammer' Cherry combined to hand the Aztecs 3 runs of their own and they made a 1-run lead stand. The Spuds haven't been shutout many times this year but Mexico City got the job done in the 2nd affair as SP Carlos Olivas fanned 6 Spuds in 6.1 innings allowing only 2 hits and no runs. Aztecs CL Richard Lawrence completed the blanking of Boise with a scoreless 9th. Spuds SP Danny Leach was effective in his start allowing 3 runs in 6.0 innings while fanning 7, but the offense was just toothless.