2012 World Series Replay - Game 1

2012 World Series Replay

So, just like many of us from the APBA Facebook Group, I recently ordered the new playing boards (which I have to admit, I was skeptical about when I found out they were bigger -- but it didn't take me long to fall in love with them) and since it also came with four teams in the 2012 Washington Nationals (Bryce Harper & Stephen Strasburg), 2012 Los Angeles Angels (Mike Trout), 2012 San Francisco Giants (the World Champions) & my beloved Detroit Tigers -- to buy it was a no-brainer.

So I decided to replay the 2012 World Series, tried to stick with the lineups from Game 1, the only problem is Avisail Garcia (OF - Tigers) didn't have enough at bats to have a card for the team set, so Andy Dirks would have to start in his place. Also Melky Cabrera does have a card for the Giants, but was suspended and left off the team playoff roster -- so I won't include him in the replay.

I felt it was a good time to do it, since...

A) I just got the boards & teams.

B) It's the MLB All-Star Break, and what a way to look at the upcoming potential playoff contenders by looking back at the recent World Series of 2012.

I decided to go with the same starting pitchers for at least the first three games, and will adjust as we go... So, the strategy could change.

Game 1 starters would be between the Tigers' Justin Verlander (Apba Grade A-XZ) and the Giants' Barry Zito (Apba Grade C), so in APBA terms this is a mismatch -- in real life, Verlander got rocked by Pablo Sandoval, while Barry Zito looked like vintage 2002 Zito. Can Verlander redeem himself in this APBA replay or can Zito still translate some of that real MLB magic into APBA form?

GAME 1

at AT&T Park / San Francisco 

STARTING LINEUPS

2012 Izzy Card - Justin Verlander (1970 Topps)

DETROIT TIGERS - Fielding 2 (38)

1. Austin Jackson - CF

2. Omar Infante - 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B

4. Prince Fielder - 1B

5. Delmon Young - LF

6. Jhonny Peralta - SS

7. Andy Dirks - RF

8. Alex Avila - C

9. Justin Verlander - SP

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - Fielding 2 (40)

1. Angel Pagan - CF

2. Marco Scutaro - 2B

3. Pablo Sandoval - 3B

4. Buster Posey - C

5. Hunter Pence - RF

6. Brandon Belt - 1B

7. Gregor Blanco - LF

8. Brandon Crawford - SS

9. Barry Zito - P

Top of the 1st

Barry Zito walks the leadoff man Austin Jackson, which is followed by a fly-out from Omar Infante -- with two strikes, Miguel Cabrera singles, and now the Tigers have runners at 1st & 2nd, with Prince Fielder stepping up to the plate. Barry Zito would strike him out, and then strikeout Delmon Young as well to get out of potential problems early.

Bottom of the 1st

Angel Pagan leads off the bottom half by hitting a single off of Justin Verlander, Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval would follow with back-to-back ground outs that would move Pagan to third base. Stepping up would be MVP hopeful Buster Posey (Posey of course, went on to win the 2012 N.L. MVP Award), he would fail to score Pagan as he grounded out to short.

Top of the 2nd

It appeared that Zito was on his way to a quick 1-2-3 after two fly-outs by Jhonny Peralta & Andy Dirks, but then ended up walking Alex Avila and then walked the pitcher Verlander of all things -- not good, because the last thing the Giants want is a inning going from certainly over to getting out of hand, when this all could have been a simple inning. Austin Jackson is also coming off a career year, a big bounce back from his somewhat disaster of a 2011 season -- but just like the first inning, Zito hunkered down and struck out Jackson to stomp out the threat.

Top of the 6th

After Barry Zito walked the lead-off man Prince Fielder for the inning, that brought up Delmon Young -- not sure, if Fielder read the wrong sign or not? but he darts (or tries to) for second and gets gunned down at second base. Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite the Tigers in the butts.

Bottom of the 6th

Two outs, Justin Verlander walks Pablo Sandoval -- Verlander up to this point, just retired the previous eleven batters. Buster Posey couldn't take advantage, as he grounds out to third.

Top of the 8th

Entering the top of the 8th, both teams are in the middle of a pitcher's duel between the reigning Cy Young & MVP Verlander and Zito (who improved the last two innings from a APBA Grade C to Grade A) -- Both teams have only one hit each, both teams had a share of baserunners, as Verlander has allowed four walks & Zito has allowed five walks. Even more odd, is that Verlander has reached base in all three of his plate appearances (one BB, and the other two on errors, both by Brandon Belt).

The Tigers had the heart of their lineup coming up during the top half in Cabrera, Fielder & Young -- Zito would escaped unscathed, 1-2-3.

Bottom of the 8th

Barry Zito was due up in the bottom of the 8th, as Bruce Bochy decides that he's calling it a day for Barry, and what a day he had (8 innings, 1 hit, no runs while striking out eight)! Decides to leave the rest of the game up to his strong bullpen, and pinch-hit with Joaquin Arias -- Arias would fly-out to left. Bringing up Angel Pagan, Pagan would draw to balls, then would foul one off, then [the dice roll... 66, zero -- second column, next dice roll... 33] Pagan sends this one to right, it's going.. going.. gone -- this one is rocketed over McCovey's Cove and into the bay! Verlander brought the heat, and would have to sit there in disbelief, as Pagan circles the bases.

While Pagan stepped up to the plate, you sensed something special was going to happen. Marco Scutaro would follow that up by flying out, as Verlander would strike out Pablo Sandoval for his fifth strikeout.

Top of the 9th

The Giants go with their closer Sergio Romo. Romo won the job from Santiago Casilla, who couldn't hold down the job. Their former closer Brian "Fear the Beard" Wilson missed the entire season to a serious injury, who these days can't seem to stay healthy -- how quickly things can change in the game of baseball.

Peralta would fly out, then Andy Dirks doubles to right-center. Jim Leyland decides to go to his bench, and pinch-hit Gerald Laird for Alex Avila (who struck out twice, and walked once), Romo strikes out Laird. Leyland once again goes to the bench, and has Brennan Boesch, who has some pop, but also has a hard time getting on base, but one good swing can at least tie the game, if not take the lead. Romo, had other plans as he strikes out Boesch to give the Giants a dramatic Game 1 victory.

FINAL SCORE                            R     H     E

DETROIT                         0   2   0

SAN FRANCISCO           1   2   2    F 

WP - Zito / LP- Verlander / SV- Romo

POST GAME

• Barry Zito (SF) - 8 IP, 1 H, no runs, 8 K & 5 BB.
• Justin Verlander (DET) - 8 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 5 K & 4 BB. Reached base all three plate appearances.
• Angel Pagan (SF) - Had both of the Giants' hits, including his 8th Inning HR.
• Miguel Cabrera (DET): 1-for-4 (single).
• Andy Dirks (DET): 1-for-4 (double).
• Sergio Romo (SF): 2 K's during 9th Inning Save.

GAME 2 - STARTING PITCHERS

• Doug Fister (DET): 10-10, 3.45 ERA, 137 K's & 37 BB's in 161 IP (APBA: B-YZ).
• Madison Bumgarner (SF): 16-11, 3.37 ERA, 191 K's & 49 BB's in 208 IP (APBA: B-XZ).