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I don't remember. I think the team was originally supposed to be named something else. :/

October 21, 2016

2016 World Series Preview



The grandest stage of them all awaits only the best of the best. The crowns awarded to each league's superior teams allow them to advance to the most important series of the year. Two teams battled their way through 162 games of ups-and-downs, successes, injuries, hardships, and now must hope to be the lucky ones raising the trophy by the end. Who will walk away from the 2016 Fall Classic having their names etched in the record books?
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VS

At 117-45, no club can say they were better than the New Jersey Eagles. The Phillies were 18 games away from being first in the majors while the NL West Champion Dodgers sat in 4th place at a record of 94-68.

The Eagles were first in every pitching category (2.57 team ERA, 1319 Ks) in the AL East while LA lead the West in only ERA (4.67) and runs allowed (780). The Dodgers had the best batting average (.285) in their division, a claim which the Eagles do not have (.278). Surprisingly, the Eagles did not lead in any category offensively in their division (except sac hits/flies).

NJ had a stunning 34 game lead over the second-place Rays and Yankees (both 83-79) while the rest of the AL East was lackluster. On the other hand, the Dodgers had a bit harder competition - the Padres, only 3 games back, secured the NL Wild Card at 91-71. The Rockies were only 6 games behind in 3rd.

In their interleague affairs, the Dodgers and Eagles did not face off. However, Los Angeles did go 12-6 versus AL opponents, and New Jersey was 14-4 against the NL.

While at home, the Eagles went 56-23. On the road, they were 61-22. Dodger Stadium was nice to the Dodgers - they had a 52-29 record while playing at the Chavez Ravine. They were less fortunate away from there - 42-39. Against the NL West, the Dodgers had a 48-36 record. The Eagles dominated the AL East at 62-22.

The Eagles' longest win streak was 10 in a row, while their most extended losing streak was 4 games. The Dodgers most drawn-out strings of wins and losses were 8 and 4, respectively. The most hits compiled for both teams was 21 for the Dodgers and 27 for the Eagles. The most HRs hit in one game was 7 for NJ and 4 for LA. The Dodgers highest run output was up 19 runs and the Eagles 25.

When ahead, the Eagles won 91 of their games - the Dodgers did so 57 times. In come-from-behind games, the Dodgers were 46-35 and the Eagles were 36-20. New Jersey lost 11 of 12 games on walkoffs and Los Angeles won 14 of 23 in that fashion. LA's pitching had 9 shutouts and NJ's had 21. In extra innings, the Eagles were 8-5, and the Dodgers were 8-6.

New Jersey's best month was September, in which they won 23 games and lost just 5. The Blue Crew had two months that resulted in a solid winning percentage - May (18-9) and June (18-9). Both teams won their side of the LCS in 6 games, 4 to 2.

When looking at both teams in this light, it seems obvious that this World Series favors the Eagles. But everybody loves an underdog, and you can't predict baseball. Stay tuned, the Fall Classic is next.

I predict Eagles in three.

Naw, I think they'll get it in 2. With their pitching, there's no way they can't.

(Insert that pic with the kid in the blue shirt pointing here)

World Series is done, posting the games this week and weekend.. heading into the offseason. That's when things get interesting. Can't say I expected myself to get this far. Hope you guys are enjoying.

I'm enjoying a lot!

October 23, 2016
(0-0) Eagles vs Dodgers (0-0): World Series Game 1

Game 1 at Rainbow Beach Stadium felt like more of the same for the Eagles. Dustin Ackley's RBI single in the 3rd kicked things off and homers by Blake Carter and Evan Longoria in the 6th provided starter Andrew Brooks a 4-0 edge. The Boys in Blue's only successful attempt to lower the deficit was in the top of the 9th, as Shane Victorino and Matt Kemp each hit home a runner. Brooks settled down after that and closed the door all by himself. Aaron Harang (2.08) pitched a decent 5 2/3 but the two homers did him in.

Player of the Game: Brooks - CG, 2-run outing + Ackley - 3rd inning RBI gave NJ lead

Final Score:
Eagles: 4
Dodgers: 2

W - Brooks | L - Harang
HR: B.Carter (1), Longoria (1)
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Ackley: 1-4, RBI
B.Carter: 1-4, HR, RBI
Longoria: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Machado: 1-3, 2B, R
Brooks: 9 IP, 9 H, 5 K, 2 ER
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H.Ramirez: 1-4, R, SO
Victorino: 1-4, 2B, RBI
Kemp: 2-4, 2B, RBI
H.Kendrick: 2-4, SO
Harang: 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 0 K, 4 ER (2 HR)
Elbert: 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 K, 0 ER
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October 24, 2016
(1-0) Eagles vs Dodgers (0-1): World Series Game 2

Game 2 featured almost the reverse events of yesterday. The Dodgers were the ones to strike first blood as Adrian Gonzalez smacked an RBI 1B in the first. Hanley Ramirez tacked onto it with a 2-RBI double just an inning later. Matt Kemp drove in the fourth and final run for LA with a single (the third in a row) in the 5th and former Dodger Clayton Kershaw's (1-0, 6.08, 8 K) reunion was short-lived. He was not lucky enough to experience the same run support as Andrew Brooks and that was the Eagles' downfall. Joe Blanton twirled a complete game with the one bump in the road being a Carter solo homer in the 2nd. New Jersey got a taste of their own medicine as we have now witnessed back-to-back complete games from Game 1 and Game 2's winning pitchers.

Player of the Game: Blanton - CG, 1-run effort + Ad.Gonzalez (1st inning RBI put LA ahead)

Final Score:
Eagles: 1
Dodgers: 4

W - Blanton | L - Kershaw
HR: B.Carter (2)
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Ackley: 2-4
B.Carter: 1-4, HR, RBI
Zieno: 2-3
Kershaw: 4 IP, 9 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 4 ER
Perkins: 5 IP, 1 H, 6 K, 1 BB, 0 ER
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H.Ramirez: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB
Kemp: 2-4, RBI, R, SO
Ad.Gonzalez: 1-4, RBI, SO
J.Bard: 2-4, 2B, R
Blanton: 9 IP, 9 H, 0 K, 1 ER (1 HR)
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October 26, 2016
(1-1) Eagles vs Dodgers (1-1): World Series Game 3

Finally, both offenses busted out for some runs. This is closer to the shootouts we were expecting from two powerhouse teams. Francisco Cervelli drove in a run in the 2nd but the Dodgers fired back in the 2nd as Alex Gonzalez blasted a 3-run homer. NJ leaped ahead in the 3rd as Machado doubled home Ackley and Carter hit a two-run jack. The see-saw continued in LA's half of the 3rd as both Trent Oeltjen and Alex Gonzalez both hit RBI singles. King Felix was lifted for Sean Haynes (4.50), however the troubles for the Eagles' pitching kept rolling as A-Gon bopped a two-out HR to center. Matt Guerrier (93/C/E, 1.00) checked in in the top of the 7th to keep the 6-4 lead. He was to restrict the NJ offense while Chris Sale (who arrived in the bottom of the 7th) had the job of hopefully just keeping his team in the game. Carter cranked his second dinger of the night in the 8th, scoring himself and Machado. We were cinched at 6-6 and Todd Coffey (96/C/E, 8.44) was next up in relief for Los Angeles. Neither side got closer to breaking the tie and so we had to head to extra innings. With two runners on in the 10th, closer Aroldis Chapman was inserted to avoid a walkoff loss. The exact opposite happened - Trent Oeltjen and Alex Gonzalez swatted back-to-back singles, the latter resulted in scoring the winning run for LA. It's not exactly dire yet for the Eagles but there is certainly some worry as they've dropped two in a row.

Player of the Game: Al.Gonzalez - Walkoff RBI in the 10th

Final Score:
Dodgers: 7
Eagles: 6

W - Coffey | L - Sale
HR: Al.Gonzalez (1), Ad. Gonzalez (1), B.Carter x2 (4)
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Machado: 3-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
B.Carter: 2-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
Trout: 2-4, R
Cervelli: 3-4, RBI
F.Hernandez: 3 IP, 9 H, 0 K, 5 ER (1 HR)
Haynes: 3 IP, 3 H, 5 K, 1 ER (1 HR)
Sale: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 K, 1 ER
Chapman: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 K, 1 ER
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Victorino: 3-5, SO
Ad.Gonzalez: 2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, SO
H.Ramirez: 4-5, 3 2B, 2 R
Ethier: 2-5, 2 R, SO
Oeltjen: 3-5, 2B, RBI, R, SO
Al.Gonzalez: 3-5, HR, 5 RBI, R
Capuano: 6 IP, 8 H, 0 K, 4 ER (1 HR)
Guerrier: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 K, 2 ER (1 HR)
Coffey: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 K, 0 ER
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*Felix's DCB increased from level 4 to level 5 in practice.

October 27, 2016
(1-2) Eagles vs Dodgers (2-1): World Series Game 4

Both the Dodgers and the Eagles relied on top-flight pitchers in Jered Weaver (2-0, 0.52, 30 K) and Cliff Lee (2.16) to calm down the hitting after a combined 12 runs allowed in Game 3. It was definitely more quiet as the pair of starters were both on their game. Howie Kendrick ended the scoreless drought in the 6th with an RBI one-bagger. Naturally, the Eagles wouldn't let themselves be shutout. Michael Saunders clobbered a 2-out homer to right field in the top of the 9th. In the bottom half, set-up man Chris Price came in during the non-save situation and proceeded to surrender a walkoff HR to A-Gon on the first pitch. NJ has blown two straight games on walkoffs and magic is in the air for the underdog Dodgers. The Eagles' bullpen is faltering at the worst time possible.

Player of the Game: Ad.Gonzalez - Walkoff HR in bottom of the 9th + J.Weaver - CG, 1-run outing

Final Score:
Dodgers: 2
Eagles: 1

W - J.Weaver (3-0) | L - C.Price
HR: Ad.Gonzalez (2), M.Saunders (1)
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M.Saunders: 1-4, HR, RBI
B.Carter: 2-4
B.Phillips: 2-3
C.Lee 8 IP, 6 H, 3 K, 1 BB, 1 ER
C.Price: 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 K, 1 ER, 1 HR
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H.Kendrick: 1-4, RBI, SO
Ad.Gonzalez: 1-4, HR, RBI
J.Weaver: 9 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 1 ER (1 HR)
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October 28, 2016
(1-3) Eagles vs Dodgers (3-1): World Series Game 5

The Dodgers were looking to clinch the World Series here in Game 5. Coming home to Dodgers Stadium helped LA to win the last two and this was the third straight home game for them. The pitching matchup saw lefty Matt Moore (7.50) and righty Chad Billingsley (2-0, 3.48, 21 K) on the bump. Howie Kendrick clubbed the initial run home in the 1st and Francisco Cervelli responded in the 3rd with a double that put New Jersey on the board. 3 innings later, Machado hit a longball, 410 ft. to center field to give the Eagles a one-run lead. Shortly after that, Hunter Pence slugged an RBI double and Chris Davis hammered a solo blast off of reliever Esmil Rogers (96/D/B). Aroldis Chapman was given another chance to close the deal despite the bullpen's shakiness as of late. Veteran catcher Josh Bard singled a run in with two outs but Aroldis was able to get pinch-hitter Matt Kemp to ground out to end the Dodger's mini-rally. New Jersey was able to avert elimination tonight but they're still in danger of losing the series tomorrow.

Player of the Game: Machado - HR in 6th gave NJ lead

Final Score:
Dodgers: 1
Eagles: 4

W - M.Moore | L - Billingsley | SV - Chapman
HR: Machado (1), C.Davis (1)
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Machado: 1-4, HR, RBI
C.Davis: 2-4, HR, RBI, R
Zimmerman: 1-4, 2B, R
Pence: 2-4, RBI
Cervelli: 1-3, RBI, 2B
M.Moore: 8 IP, 8 H, 6 K, 1 ER
Chapman: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 K, 1 ER
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H.Ramirez: 3-4, 2B, R
H.Kendrick: 1-4, RBI, 2 SO
J.Bard: 1-4, RBI
Billingsley: 8 IP, 8 H, 0 K, 3 ER (1 HR)
E.Rogers: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 K, 1 ER (1 HR)
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*Cliff Lee's drop curve increased to level 5 through practice.

Gah, don't lose!! All these dang walk-offs! This'd be a great WS IRL. and it is in PP too. Come on Eagles, 2 more games!

Have you been playing these games?

Yeah, I know, it's crazy! Funny thing is, I posted earlier saying I witnessed something I didn't think I've ever seen - that being two walkoffs in a row by the same player. I deleted it because one was by Alex Gonzalez and the other by Adrian, then again two walkoffs back-to-back is wild by itself.

I have been playing a game and then simming one. So the order is Game 1 - I played, Game 2 - I simmed, and so on.

October 30, 2016
(2-3) Eagles vs Dodgers (3-2): World Series Game 6

The King's Court and King Felix (3.43, 2-0, 9 K) himself expected better from the former M's ace in Game 3. As it happened, they were rewarded with exactly that in his second time on the mound of this series. As disappointing as he was last time, he was dealing in this one, on his way to a 7-hit complete game shuout (though he struck out just one). An RBI double by Carter and RBI singles by Longoria and Cervelli pegged NJ in front 3-0. The Eagles erupted for four more in the 3rd - Zimmerman hit an RBI 2B, Cervelli knocked in his second run on a single, and Michael Saunders sent home two runners with a two-bagger. Up 7-0, another Saunders RBI base hit and Mike Trout scoring on a wild pitch in the 5th were just icing on the cake. Even if Felix had been as bad as in Game 3, he still probably would have won. The Eagles' offensive potential shined through as they combined for the most amount of runs since Game 5 of the ALCS. Amazingly, they hit no homeruns. Aaron Harang (3.38) stood no chance as NJ triumphs over him for a second time.

Player of the Game: F.Hernandez - CG shutout to tie the series + B.Carter - RBI in 1st gave NJ lead

Final Score:
Dodgers: 0
Eagles: 9

W - F.Hernandez | L - Harang
HR: None
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B.Carter: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Longoria: 2-4, RBI, R
Zimmerman: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Trout: 2-4, 2 R
M.Saunders: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Cervelli: 2-4, 2 RBI
F.Hernandez: 9 IP, 7 H, 1 K, 0 ER
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J.Bard: 3-3
H.Ramirez: 0-4
Victorino: 0-4
Ad.Gonzalez: 1-4
Harang: 3 IP, 11 H, 0 K, 7 ER
E.Rogers: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 K, 2 ER
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October 31, 2016
(3-3) Eagles vs Dodgers (3-3): World Series Game 7

It's almost as if this was fate. The two best teams were destined to go the whole 7 games with the final game deciding who reigns supreme. The Eagles took game one, the Dodgers ran away with the next three, and NJ recovered to win the following two. Here we are on Halloween 2016, Game 7 of the Fall Classic. Only one team will be left remaining.

The red-hot New Jersey hitters were on pace to keep it up as they sprung out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Chris Davis belted a 3-run shot but fellow power hitter A-Gon retorted with an RBI double in the 2nd. Things got out of hand for New Jersey starter Andrew Brooks (1.13, 1-0, 7 K) in the 3rd - AGon hit a two-run big fly, Oeltjen singled home a run, and Alex Gonzalez bunted home a runner. Sean Haynes had to clean up the mess and he escaped with the Eagles down just two. Chris Davis prolonged his hot streak with an RBI single in the 4th but the 5th brought more damage to NJ pitching. Josh Bard doubled home two and Hanley drove in a run as well. Chris Price was brought in and Longoria bashed a solo HR in the 7th to make it 8-5. Todd Coffey (6.14) made another appearance in the 8th (in place of starter Joe Blanton), yielding a solo homer to Machado. In the end though, the Eagles' comeback was all for naught. The bottom of the 9th saw closer Alfredo Aceves (95/C/C) get his first save opportunity of the series. He got Chris Davis to groundout and Longoria and Zimmerman to fly out to end the Eagles' dream of a second World Series Championship. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their 9th World Series here in Game 7, and on the Eagles' home field nonetheless. New Jersey goes home empty-handed while LA celebrates. After redeeming themselves in the last two games, a disaster like this is a devastating way to go out. For the best team in the majors, the Eagles got so close, and yet.. so far.



Player of the Game: Blanton (7 innings of 5-run ball in the victory as winning pitcher)

Final Score:
Dodgers: 8
Eagles: 6

W - Blanton | L - Brooks | SV - Aceves
HR: Machado (2), C.Davis (2), Longoria (1), Ad.Gonzalez (2)
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Machado: 3-5, HR, RBI, R
Ackley: 3-5, 2 R
B.Carter: 2-5, R
C.Davis: 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
Longoria: 3-5, HR, RBI, R
Brooks: 2 1/3 IP, 9 H, 1 K, 5 ER (1 HR)
Haynes: 4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 1 K, 3 ER
C.Price: 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 K, 0 ER
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Hanley: 1-5, RBI, SO
Victorino: 3-5
Kemp: 3-5, 2B, R
Ad.Gonzalez: 1-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
Ethier: 3-5, 2B, 2 R
H.Kendrick: 2-5, 2B, 2 R
Oeltjen: 2-5, 2B, RBI, R, SO
Al.Gonzalez: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
J.Bard: 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R
Blanton: 7 IP, 16 H, 1 K, 5 ER (2 HR)
Coffey: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 K, 1 ER (1 HR)
Aceves: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 K, 0 ER
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