Day 5/Game 1 -- Millwood v. Reuters

Fresh off two straight losses, including a 1-0 loss in Colleen County on
a Russ Ortiz bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a game-ending bases-loaded
GIDP by Robin Ventura, the Pelicans return home at 1-2 to take on the
0-3 Thespians in front of a capacity crowd at the Re-Met. Notch was
primed for a big win, especially because there is only one thing he
hates worse than being shut out (that being blowing a big lead).

A great start for the home team, as Chico stranded two in the 1st, and
Ichiro homered to lead off the 1st for the Pellies. Jeter doubled and
scored on a Burrell groundout, and it was 2-0 early.

Chico bunched two singles and a walk together to pull within 2-1 in the
3rd before the Pelicans took over with three in the 6th on a two-run
double by Casey and an RBI single by Bell to make it 7-1.

After Rueter sent the Thespians down 1-2-3 in the top of the 7th, the
world went straight to hell. The baseball gods -- who were busy
punishing the Thespians for not being named the Bail Bonds after one of
the greatest baseball movies ever -- decided that Notch was getting too
cocky.

Not that Notch did anything different with a 7-1 lead. He only:
1) removed injury-prone stars Griffey and Bell from the game, and
2) removed Rueter to get his bullpen some work.

Yes, you read that right. Kirk "One Run Allowed In Seven Innings And
Not Tired" Rueter was taken out, making way for Graeme Lloyd. Let's
jump ahead to the postgame interview where Notch had to defend this
decision:

"The bullpen performed well in Collin County, and I still fail to see
the harm in building confidence in the reliever corps. After all, it is
a marathon, not a sprint. That being said, I take full responsibility
for the loss today."

That's right, kids. Graeme Lloyd turned a 7-1 game into a 7-4 game in
the 8th with the crowd favorite, the
groundout-walk-single-single-single-double-flyout with a trailing runner
caught off base on the side. "No problem," uttered Notch, "I can get my
closer a cheap save in the 9th."

So here comes Esteban Yan with a decent poker hand to start the 9th, two
pair (two walks, two groundouts). "No problem," says Notch, "we're not
blowing this lead. Two runs up, one man on, and Jose Cruz, he's a puss."

Meow to you, sir. Two-run homer to right, 7-7, I got your puss right
here. That would be what Cruz WOULD HAVE said to Notch had he spoken
English; he maybe just said "Chinga tu burrito" instead. Dan Plesac was
summoned to get Todd Walker out, which he did.

Jim Mecir got out of a bases-loaded, one-out mess in the 11th but made
up for that by giving up a leadoff pinchhit to Some Guy Named Minor in
the 12th. And yes, that smell you smell is Notch's skin burning.

CT 001 000 033 001 -- 8 16 0
NO 200 113 000 000 -- 7 7 0

Thespians info:
Pitching -- Millwood 5 IP, Boehringer 2, Bradford 2, Kim (W) 2,
Williamson (Sv) 1
Catching -- Piazza 12
HR -- Cruz (1 on, 2 out in 9th), Minor (leadoff in 12th)
SB -- None
CS -- None
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- None
Limits -- Minor 1 AB v. R

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Rueter 7 IP, Lloyd 1, Yan .2, Plesac .1, Mecir (L) 3
Catching -- Kendall 12
HR -- Ichiro (leadoff in 1st)
SB -- Jeter, Bell
CS -- None
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- None
Limits -- Zaun 1 AB v. R

Player of the game -- The puss Jose Cruz the Second, 0-for-3 until the
bullpen slithered onto the playing field, then singled and scored in the
8th, hit a game-tying homer with two out in the 9th, and walked to load
the bases in the 11th.

Anti-player of the game -- Did you read any of the game summary, if
not, let's phrase it word-problem style: One pitcher allows one run in
seven innings, and two pitchers then give up six runs in 1.2 innings.
How many profanities were heard in the Pelican clubhouse after the game?

Miscellaneous note from Game 1: Chico left 14 runners on base, but they
won so who cares?.



Day 6/Game 2 -- Astacio v. Schilling

"It doesn't matter how bad the bullpen is, blowing a six-run lead in the
8th inning is inexcusable."

That gem from the Times-Picayune sports page the day after (combined
with what actually happened on the field) brings us to a pre-game
conversation between Notch and starting pitcher Curt Schilling:

Notch: "We're 1-3; three losses in a row. We need to get the home crowd
into the team. You know we need a big game from you today."
Schilling (smiling): "Sure, as long as you don't take me out in the 8th."

Indeed, Curt. Indeed.

CT 000 000 100 -- 1 6 0
NO 100 200 00X -- 3 7 0

Thespians info:
Pitching -- Astacio (L) 7 IP, Eischen 1
Catching -- Piazza 3, Flaherty 5
HR -- None
SB -- None
CS -- Mackowiak
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- Piazza was ejected in the bottom of
the 4th after Astacio walked Kendall and he complained too loudly about
it. He left the ballpark soon afterward with his entourage, Emmitt
Smith, Terry Bradshaw, and ALF.
Limits -- Mackowiak 4 AB v. R

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Schilling (W) 9 IP
Catching -- Kendall 9
HR -- None
SB -- Jeter
CS -- None
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- None
Limits -- None

Player of the game -- Schilling's line: 9 6 1 1 2 13. Thank you,
we needed that.

Anti-player of the game -- Piazza's hissy fit left the Thespians with
only one catcher left, John Flaherty, and he was stuck batting behind
Jason Giambi. Giambi was only intentionally walked once, that being
with a runner on 3rd and two out in the 8th. Flaherty lined out to end
the threat.



Day 7/Game 3 -- Byrd v. Vazquez

Damon homers to lead off the game, then a full-blown pitchers duel
ensues. It continued until the 6th, when Burrell hit a two-run homer to
give the Pelicans a 2-1 lead.

2-1 going to the top of the 9th, and guess what Notch does? He left
Vazquez in to get a Jose Cruz groundout. NOW the puss grounds out.

And NOW here comes Esteban Yan for the save, and yes you read that
right. He couldn't hold a three-run lead before, so here he comes in a
one-run game needing two outs. Is he high? Can I get some of that
stuff? Okay, whatever. A single, foul out, and another single later,
here comes Dan Plesac to get pinchhitter Jose Guillen on a called strike
three. Could this be the beginning of the Hasegawa Era at the closer
position, or does Notch now grovel before every other team in the league
with a surplus of quality relievers?

Maybe both.

CT 100 000 000 -- 1 8 0
NO 000 002 00X -- 2 5 1

Thespians info:
Pitching -- Byrd (L) 6, Bradford 2
Catching -- Piazza 8
HR -- Damon (leadoff in 1st)
SB -- None
CS -- None
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- None
Limits -- Minor 1 AB v. R

Pelicans info:
Pitching -- Vazquez (W) 8.1 IP, Yan .1, Plesac (Sv) .1
Catching -- Kendall 9
HR -- Burrell (1 on, 1 out in 6th)
SB -- None
CS -- None
Injuries/Ejections/Suspensions -- None
Limits -- None


After the game the 3-3 Pelicans head to Satika, wherever that is. They
also called up fifth starter Jeff Suppan from AAA Kent, where he pitched
twice to get some work in, going 2-0 with 12 hits and 3 runs allowed in
13 innings. Britt Reames (no, not Esteban Yan) was sent down to make room.

The rotation against the Akitas (whatever an Akita is) will be Ortiz,
Rueter, and Suppan.