Against the Ropes

I'm sure I am not the only one of late, that feels like he's a boxer that got his head bashed in by another boxer, barely standing on my two feet, leaning against the ropes.

Racial tensions are high, the country is fractured, and we are still in the middle of a pandemic.

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I have posted, but I do have some material on the way.

I am still working on the Brothers In Dice: 1978 MLB Replay with my brother Chris, while we are in mid-June for that replay. I have also been working on my new APBA project named AGBA, which I will explain soon enough.

My friend and former roommate at Ft.Gordon, John Lokka surprised me with a gift, by giving me a year subscription to the Society American Baseball Research. I can't thank him enough for believing in my writing, and for his friendship. We reunited after 20 years during a baseball game, last May, between the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. He also found himself a wonderful girl in Katie, in which they will be marrying sometime soon, in which they are still trying to figure out what to do with all the Coronavirus restrictions and such.

The UAL Draft is coming up next month, but to be honest at the moment I am on the ropes if I want to do a season this fall. If you remember right, the UAL, is a mail-in league of 26 or 28 team league of owners all around the country. With there not likely being a 2020 MLB season, it means at some point the league will have to take a year off. It would be kind of nice, if we just do the draft, and take this fall/winter off (the time period we play seasons) in anticipation for a likely second wave of the virus this fall/winter, not to mention the election, Christmas, in which will likely be difficult to navigate through as it is.

I feel like lately the blog has not shown off my best stuff, and I'm hoping to be rolling again here shortly, plus while writing for the SABR as well.

Let's all keep our heads up, and keep rolling plenty of 66's.

3 Weeks Later

I have been very busy of late, but things are finally starting to slow down. It was probably the first time in a long time (or first time ever), that I only put out two posts for a single month. I still have many of the posts that I plan to do, as mentioned in my June 7th post.

I have not rolled any games via APBA in some time, I actually had a great jump start on the 1978 A.L. Replay, in which I got so far ahead that I was using a Microsoft Word file as a write-up queue. I was trying not to get ahead of my brother Chris on the National League side of the 78' MLB Replay. Now I only have a few write-ups in the queue, while he has passed me on games played, while he is almost two days ahead of me. It should be noted that the National League have two fewer teams, and that will mean less games overall for him to play.

My pace has slowed down incredibly from the rate I was playing at. As noted in my May 9th post (1978 Brothers In Dice: Out of the Gate), I rolled 47 games, including write-ups and stat-keeping between Easter (4/20) and May 9th. I have since rolled 41 games, have all the stats caught up, while needing to write about 5 write-ups. I have probably not rolled any games in almost three weeks, as well as not writing any blog pieces in that time as well.

The reason was the wear-and-tear of regular life, working 6 day weeks (which just got cut back down to 5 day weeks).

Also the fact that summer is starting to feel like summer, which means going out with the wife a little more to take advantage of the weather.

I have not been able to do anything with my Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League site (Wix site) since the season basically started, while just going through the motions by sending out C-Files and receiving F-Files -- without any special write-ups or sprucing up the league. I really hit the wall with that league, and had the commissioner keys dropped back into my lap, with no time on my hands.

Plenty to come, but it definitely should not be another three weeks until you hear from me again.

These 6 Day Weeks are Killing Me

We have been short-handed at work, so it has meant 6 days a week at work for me, which means I am getting 8 hours of overtime each week. The body aches, and sometimes I just don't have the energy for much else.

As you may have noticed that has contributed to slower activity on The Boys of Summer Blog, but don't you all worry, there is plenty to come.

• Reuniting with an old military buddy at a ballgame.
• More on the 'Brothers in Dice: 1978 Replay'
• The UAL off-season and what that means for my Traverse City Fighting Tigers.
• The latest on the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League (BoS).
• Plus a few pieces coming up about Major League Baseball on players, fans' perspectives, and scouting talent.
• Also a future series (in the further future) on how I fell into APBA, my APBA life, and the friends that I have met along the way, while focusing on the current state of the game.

Thanks for all the readers who continue to read this blog, I hope all is well for all of you, and that you enjoy this summer, while you get a chance.

While You are Waiting

I just wanted to do a quick shout-out to my regular readers, I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately. Many things going on, been very busy, and dealing with the loss of good friends.

While your waiting please check out many of my past posts along the topics table on the right side, or please check out some of the blogs & websites that I love following, such as...

• My friend Thomas Nelshoppen's "The APBA Blog" on all things APBA, like leagues, tournaments, the people involved & the cards themselves.

• "Cards That Never Were" - A site of custom-made cards, this site has over 850 cards on here to check out, talk about creativity! Love cards, check it out!

• "Love, Life and APBA Baseball" - My friend Kenneth Heard has this amazing blog which brings an in-depth perspective of his personal life while it's peppered in with the great game of APBA Baseball. You won't find another blog that comes straight from the heart, and you will love Kenneth's way with words, while he'll also make you laugh.

• "Fireblossom's APBA Baseball Blog" - You will love following Fireblossom's APBA Seasons, she is currently rolling the 1956 National League Season.

• "Minnesota APBA" A blog by my friend Beau Lofgren & his APBA projects, he has a few family members that love the game as well... I really enjoying reading his posts.

• "Jim's APBA Barn" - Jim's site, keeps us in touch with APBA leagues, upcoming tournaments, and inside perspectives in the world of Baseball, with delightful stories such as "A Chance Meeting" with Dick Stigman & other stories as well.

Enjoy! I do have plenty to come...

Thanks for your patience,

Shawn 

Latest Scorecard

68' World Series with current backdrop of Navin Field (Tiger Stadium).

Things to come from the Boys of Summer Blog...

• The Conclusion of the WHAT IF 1984 World Series, between the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Cubs lead 3-2, after 2-0 deficit.

• News about the start of the 2015 Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League, we are a month into the season now. The Portland Microbrewers are looking good once again (Can they make it three straight World Series appearances?) and new teams are making the league take notice, along with new faces.

• More 2007 Detroit Tigers Season Replay action...

• Part III & Conclusion of 2020 article.

• My thoughts on the 2015 MLB Season, how about them Blue Jays, right?! Their General Manager is looking like a genius right now.

• News on the APBA Tournament coming up in Minnesota!

Full Count

With all that's been going on, I know I planned on writing in-depth articles about my current baseball projects, but to get things done for my Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League, and other responsibilities to other leagues that I participate in. I will have to give brief updates on all, right here & right now. Eventually, I will finish my 2014 BoS World Series coverage -- since I need to update the league sit as well.

I literally feel like Dave Bergman at the plate in 1984 during a key at-bat in the season, against Roy Lee Jackson & the Toronto Blue Jays who were starting to gnaw away at the division lead for the Tigers. His epic 13 pitch at-bat, resulted in a walk-off three-run HR in the bottom of the 10th --- I'm currently still fouling off pitches with a full count, still looking to hit it out of the park, like he did.

Once I get the new 2015 BoS Season rolling, than I will feel like I can round the bases.

So first things, first....

The 2014 BoS World Series

We left off with the Fairgrove Tigers leading the series, 2-0 after the first two games. The Portland Microbrewers are in their second consecutive World Series; both teams trying to win their first championship.

In Game 3, with Portland now traveling to Fairgrove -- Portland's Anibal Sanchez did his best to try and keep the Brewers in the game; He went 7.1 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB with 10 strikeouts. The Tigers' pinch-hitter, rookie Khris Davis would hit a pinch-hit HR in the bottom of the 8th off of reliever Tony Watson. Joe Nathan would come in for his 2nd save of the series, winning the game 2-1.

With a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Microbrewers find their backs to the wall. Portland sends Cliff Lee to face the Tigers' Mat Latos in Game 4; Both starting pitchers got rocked -- Portland would pull away with 5 runs in the last three innings to win, 11-6. Juan Uribe was the hero for Portland, going 4-for-5, with 4 RBI & 2 runs, with a double -- Only two Brewers in the lineup didn't collect a hit, as Portland put 12 hits on the board.


Portland selected Bartolo Colon to start Game 5 against Madison Bumgarner, who has been unstoppable during these playoffs -- one of the best playoff performances for a pitcher in this league's young history, possible best ever to this point (Art imitating real life). But tonight, "Mad Bum" just didn't have it, got rocked allowing 7 ER, 6 hits & 4 walks in only 5.2 innings. Bartolo got touched up early, allowing 3 runs in the first 4 innings, and then settled down -- he would go the distance, as the Brew Crew's offense went off for a second consecutive game, with 5 runs in the top of the 6th & 7 runs in the top of the 8th. Portland wins again, 14-3, and have outscored Fairgrove 25-9, the last two games for a combined 27 hits in those two games.

Freeman continues to make Post-Season history in the BoS.

Talking about playoff history in the BoS, Freddie Freeman seems to live for this time of season as well, he had a historic post-season in the 2013 BoS Postseason, with 8 HR's! He ended up smacking two homers in this one (including a Grand Slam), going 3-for-5, with 6 RBI & 3 runs. I can definitely say he is our all-time leader in HR's for the post-season, in two years of existence.

Portland down 3-0, has now won two straight & forced a Game 6, playing in front of their home crowd again, the city of Portland was abuzz. But it wasn't mean't to be, Paul Goldschmidt would hit his 3rd HR of the series for Fairgrove, a two-run HR, that gave the Tigers, a 3-0 lead. Jarred Cosart was excellent, allowing only 2 hits, on no runs through 8 innings (although he allowed 4 walks). Joe Nathan would seal down the hatch, as the Tigers win their first BoS World Title on enemy territory. Hisashi Iwakuma got the loss for the Brewers, as Portland will try and get back here a third consecutive season, next year.

The 2014 BoS World Champions patch for the Fairgrove Tigers.

The 2007 DETROIT TIGERS Replay

Things have not been great of late for the 2007 Detroit Tigers in my replay, we were coming off a huge high in the first half of the season. The Tigers were 53-33, 5 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians in the standings for the A.L. Central -- We were only one game ahead of the real season pace, but we have played better against Cleveland than in real life, up to this point; We are also coming off a 19-7 month of June, after a so-so May.

We were 49-30 entering July, 3 games ahead of pace. We kicked off July by losing our finale to the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, we blew the first game of that series, so we should have not lost that series, 2-1. The Twins are now at that point, 6-3 against us. We would win our Cleveland series, 2-1 & Boston Red Sox series, 2-1 -- So plenty of reasons to be excited at the All-Star Break at 53-33. 

Magglio Ordonez (.400 ALERT) was batting .397, 23 HR & 71 RBI with a 1.182 OPS! While Gary Sheffield is on pace to make the 40/40 club at age 38. 

Then came the start of the second half for the Tigers. We had the first game get away from us on the road in Seattle, losing 4-3 -- We would win the next two, but lose the series closer; a series 2-2 split with the Seattle Mariners, who were 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Angels in the A.L. West at the break. 

Bonderman has been lights out for the 2007 Tigers.

We would go on to lose a heart-breaker of a series against the Minnesota Twinkies once again, who now have a 8-4 record against us. Game 1 of that series, we lost in extras. We have now gone to extras against the Twins, 4 times in our 12 contests, with the Twins winning three of those. 

So we've been on the road for 7 games, and get to host the Kansas City Royals for a three-game showdown -- it's good to be home, right? Nope. I don't know if we were rusty from the road, we didn't show up in Game 1, we would win Game 2, and then Mark Grudzielanek once again destroyed us in Game 3; He has single-handily destroyed me this season.

Now we go on the road for 11 consecutive games, after being on the road, 7 of our previous 10 games, making that 18 road games in our first 21 post All-Star Break games. Our next opponents are the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels & Oakland Athletics. 

By the way, Ordonez has cooled off to .387, 25 HR & 78 RBI & 1.159 OPS through 96 games. Jeremy Bonderman has over-achieved, and is 12-2, with a 3.34 ERA & 78 K's in 118.2 innings -- He is coming off back-to-back shutouts against the Mariners & Twins. He is up against the White Sox in Game 2 of this up-coming series.

So that was just the latest on two of my projects, more to come...

History in the Making

Beltran will try to lead Imps to a repeat.

So I think I just made history with this post, I think this is absolutely the longest I went between two posts, so it's a historic post, LOL!

Anyways, sorry for being out of action for a little bit, I hope I didn't lose any readers along the way. I have been busy with my Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League. We just finished the 2014 Draft (2013 MLB Players) and are about to start our second season. We had a short off-season, and will have one more short off-season after this upcoming season, and then we'll be caught up.

We have three new owners joining us this season, and 16 teams (one owner per team). Out is the Washington Filibusters, Carolina Panthers & Sacramento 66'ers (I still plan to get you a 66'ers hat -- Doug Schuyler!); In, we have the Swatara Eliminators, Brooklyn Mets, and San Diego Heroes.

The defending champion South Shore Fighting Imps have already made a trade, acquiring Carlos Beltran and Sean Burnett in their quest for a repeat -- while the Eliminators get a nice piece in return with Lorenzo Cain (who the nation got to see more of in the 2014 World Series, with the Royals). Reliever Caleb Thielbar also was part of the deal.

The funny thing is that we (the league) only had 4 transactions made during the first season, entering draft day. During draft day we had three deals alone, plus two more deals a few days later -- now there a grand total of 9 deals.

My Panthers during the draft traded one of my extra arms in Matt Garza to the Boston Bravos for a 6th Rd Draft Pick that actually used to be mine from a prior trade, and with that pick I drafted Oakland's Dan Otero (really looking forward to his 2014 card, nice amount of innings from the pen).

I thought I was loading up on arms, but the Chicago Nine may have the best batch of young arms in the league. They acquired pitchers Chris Archer and Guillermo Moscoso from Boston, in exchange for pitchers Kris Medlen and Bruce Chen. Archer and Moscoso join Tyler Chatwood, Tony Cingrani, Danny Duffy, Jenrry Mejia, Shelby Miller, Garrett Richards, Danny Salazar, Jacob Turner, Carlos Martinez, and Danny Salazar. The ace is "King Felix" Hernandez with a reliable vet in Jeremy Guthrie.

Chicago traded two veteran arms in Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Samardzija to the Urbana Locomotives; the deal helps both, as Urbana's starting rotation takes a dip compared to last season and Chicago got two draft picks in which one of the picks, picked up RP-Yoervis Medina. Chicago has been wheelin' & dealin', and should be a much-improved ball club, Chicago has now been involved in 5 of the league's 9 trades. The draft got kicked off with a one-for-one trade with DH-David Ortiz going to Chicago in exchange for OF-Carlos Gonzalez -- a deal that should work out for both teams.

My team (the Traverse City Panthers) had no power last season, and was built more for this season. My guys Josh Donaldson, Matt Carpenter, Brian Dozier, and Brandon Belt started to bloom in 2013 (MLB); Giancarlo Stanton will take a step back (particularly his batting average), while Jean Segura will be my everyday shortstop this upcoming season, hoping he can rebound for the Brewers though in 2015.
My outfield became a bit of a mess when I involved Austin Jackson in a trade that helped acquire starting pitchers Corey Kluber and Nate Eovaldi, and for a time I was considering drafting Jose Fernandez (if I ended up with the worst record) -- but I have enough pitching, and adding more would have been a bit too much. At the end of a nine-game losing streak, I traded Matt Harrison and Brandon Morrow to a contender in the Portland Microbrewers, along with Jackson. To get a little back in the OF department for the next season, I would trade for Boston's Hunter Pence. So now I have Stanton & Pence, the next closest guys on the depth chart after that was Alejandro DeAza and Jarrod Dyson.

Puig points the way for the Panthers.

As the season went on, I didn't realize how bad my team actually was, I really thought we would win 73-74 games. I did much worse than that, with a 45-117 record -- they actually had a worst record than my MWBL Traverse City Crusaders (but I ensure you, the Crusaders were much worse on paper). I ended up with the worst record of the BoS -- and possibly the ownership of a league worst record that won't be matched for some time.

Like I said, I had the pitching in place with Yu Darvish (my franchise's first player chosen in the inaugural draft), Matt Harvey, Alex Cobb, Corey Kluber, Julio Teheran, Henderson Alvarez, Nate Eovaldi & Tyler Skaggs -- so drafting Fernandez would be silly with the lack of power on my team, so I drafted the other star Cuban of the draft in Yasiel Puig. Puig didn't scare me with his August fade-out in 2014 for the Dodgers, Now I have a pretty good group of outfielders with strong arms in Stanton, Puig & Pence -- I have DeAza, Dyson, Juan Lagares (who I drafted in the 2014 draft) with Ryan Raburn (great 2013 card with punch on limited play). I also like my draft choices of Kevin Kiermaier (a pleasant surprise for the Rays in 2014) and Scott Van Slyke (yes, Andy's son) -- who is rumored to be in trade rumors for the Dodgers.

My bullpen will be pretty good in 2014 season (2013 stats) and will be better in 2015 (2014) with my 2nd round pickup of free agent Wade Davis to go along with my pen of (Royal teammate) Kelvin Herrera, Luke Gregerson, Otero, Cody Allen, Tanner Scheppers and Anthony Varvaro. Bullpens are as huge in APBA as in MLB Baseball, during my years in the IGAL, that is where my team started becoming a force, once I had a top-notch bullpen. It helped my Braves win titles in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 & 2008 -- yeah, I was that league's version of the San Francisco Giants with the whole other-year thing. At one point, I had Brad Lidge, Joe Nathan & John Smoltz in the pen -- now that's an opposing manager's worst nightmare.

My team has now conducted 3 deals, I believe. I believe it's better to be aggressive when it comes to trades than be too relaxed & sit still. I unfortunately sat a little too much in my 1989 MWWL Season for the Traverse City Tigers, hopefully we can get it together a bit before the end of the season -- but no return to the playoffs for us, and we can count on no winning record either -- but I think we can play better, so hopefully we can annoy some teams before 89' comes to a close.

Anyways, that's what I have been up to as of late -- also in the works of a new schedule being made for the upcoming season.

Other news on this league & my other APBA projects, coming soon...