@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

Yes, I'm now well enough to play some #NABA games - damn, that sounds really sad, but at least it's going in the right direction. I do wonder who the hell went out there for Belanger in this game, because he hit a home run AND made an error. #WhatTheHellDidYouJustSay But the Birds prevail over a free-swinging Whalers team featuring the EL's home run leader Rip Kirby, who did get a homer in the game. Josh Gibson for Baltimore is second, and also got a HR - inside-the-park, in fact!

O's pick up a game on Pittsburgh for the top spot. Meanwhile, the Expos continue their tear, leaving New York alone in the EL basement winning their sixth straight. The Western League now has Sacramento making a run of it, climbing into a three-way tie for first with San Diego and Hollywood. The A's got blanked at home and continue to sink like a stone...

Eastern League scores:
Baltimore 10, Hartford 9 (10)
- Josh Gibson walk-off double
Philadelphia 2, Toronto 0
- Carey Lincoln & Co. silence Blue Jay bats
Brooklyn 9, Pittsburgh 6
- Late Pirate rally falls short at home
Montreal 10, New York 3
- two home runs from Henry Blanco??
Ottawa 7, Boston 5
- Altamirano's WP plates Keilani with the go-ahead

Western League scores:
San Francisco 6, Hollywood 1
- Kellum holds Stars to 4 hits
Vancouver 3, Oakland 0
- Lorenzo Ordonez goes to 3-0
Seattle 4, Portland 1
- SEA RF Axel Haughton 4-4, 2B
Sacramento 6, San Diego 5 (10)
- Will Middlebrooks singles in Rizzo with GW
Honolulu 10, Los Angeles 4
- Rare start at 3B for McElroy: 3-4, 4 RBI

#BaseballSim #FakeBaseball #IDon'tCareHowColdItIsOutside

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#NABA

Finally was able to take advantage of the downtime in the new year and play a bit more NABA baseball. I'm trying to pick up the pace of the games and zip through the season faster, but it's still really tempting to see what happens in real time.

There's still a rather embarrassing number of hits happening out there, and I'm not sure enough of how to adjust it properly; it may be staying that way because of something I set earlier, before the season, that may just be baked in for now. Or I may just need better pitchers out there. Dunno. It isn't absolutely, egregiously broken, but more experimentation and/or support and guidance is needed with #OOTP . So if you know anybody, point them my way.

The O's did pick up a needed win against the Expos, but overall, their early success is catching up to them, as the amazingly hot bats from April have quieted down.

#FakeBaseball #BaseballSim #GettingMeThroughTheWinter

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords
#NABA

Haven't posted scores for a bit, thanks to #HolidayMadness , increased demand at work (which is a good thing, 'cause I own the company), family drama, and health matters that I'm dealing with. I could post more about all of this, but hey, we all gots problems, and no one needs to hear about mine. (Might not stop me from bitching, but there you go.)

The O's just dropped the last game to the Expos on a boneheaded play by Don Hurst at first, allowing a run to score in the top of the 9th.

I'll post standings sometime soon. Right now, I have a show tomorrow and found out that the venue has sold A HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE TICKETS meaning a panicked attempt to get enough materials together.

#BaseballSim #FakeBaseball #ShitHappens #WeOverpaidForShaneBazButIDontCare

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#NABA Sometimes it's good to be David Aardsma. For one thing, you're first alphabetically - even before Hank Aaron. Probably helps getting a good seat on the flight. Secondly, you get called up from San Rafael to the San Francisco Seals, and end up doing this...

With the visiting Padres up 7-5, B.J. Ryan comes on for the save in the bottom of the 9th and promptly gets an easy ground out and goes up 0-2 on Alex Sosa - but Sosa fouls off a bunch and then works a walk. That brought up the guy you didn't want up there: Puerto Rican sensation Dario Miranda, the #1 draft pick and highest-paid player in the league - who responds with his second dinger of the game and sends it into extras.

In the 11th, Padres defensive sub Rob Deer (I think he needs to be announced as Rrrrrob Deeeeerrrrr whenever he appears, as he is the Legend of Three True Outcomes) blasts his own 2-run shot following a walk to Clark Robshaw in the top of the frame. Game over, right? Nope - the defense fails the Friars, as Miranda's tailor-made double play is kicked by Robshaw at second base, loading the bases for LF Cipriano Bichetti, Dario's other "Bash Brother", who singles to left...Russell scores, and reserve catcher Ed Ott somehow lumbers around from second ahead of Tony Criscola's throw to tie it up again!

Aardsma comes in for his Seals debut at the top of the 12th - and finishes the 14th with no runs on 2 hits (both to Brooks Robinson), no walks and 2 K's. Impressive enough, but then with Bautista Galan cruising for the Pads in the bottom of the 14th, Bichetti and Costa down on two quick outs, and literally no one left on the bench, the Seals have no choice but to send Aardsma to the plate. (Ratings: 1 for contact and 1 for power. Both out of 100.)

Ball low. Then a called strike. A swing and - wait, is that fair? Down the line! Criscola looking up - it's GONE!

EL Scores
Baltimore 7, Toronto 2
Boston 6, Pittsburgh 4 (10)
Montreal 13, Hartford 3
Ottawa 7, Brooklyn 4
Philadelphia 4, New York 2

WL Scores
Oakland 5, Honolulu 4
Sacramento 9, Hollywood 7
Portland 9, Vancouver 2
San Francisco 10, San Diego 9 (14)
Seattle 4, Los Angeles 1

#BaseballSim #FakeBaseball #WTH #BetterThanRealBaseball #ExceptWeNowHaveAlonso

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#ThisIsABaseballSim

And now the latest in #NABA highlights...

- The Pirates scored 13 against Hartford - all in the bottom of the 6th. Of the 16 men sent to the plate, Jett Indigo smacked a grand slam, and a few batters later, Chip Hinton, Denys Galvez, and Mark Reynolds went back-to-back-to-back!

- Keenan Markley pitches into the 8th and gives up only two hits as the Phillies shut out the O's...

- A host of pinch hitters enter for Ottawa in the 8th, breaking the tie against Blue Jays reliever Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky...

- Down 7-2 in Oakland, the Padres come back to tie in the 8th and win in the 11th: Clark Robshaw with a sac fly following a Valentino Campos triple, and consecutive doubles from Andino and Criscola...

- The Stars walk it off in the bottom of the 9th! Gary Gaetti with a one-out bases-loaded single against Vancouver's Chad Bradford brings in Bassis Ariaty with the third run of the inning

- Not to be outdone, the Beavers enter the bottom of the 9th down 5-4 to the Seals, but two-out singles from Juan Pablo Morillo and Zeke Bonura bat in two for the win!

Eastern League scores:
Philadelphia 6, Baltimore 0
Boston 2, New York 1
Pittsburgh 13, Hartford 5
Brooklyn 3, Montreal 0
Ottawa 6, Toronto 1

Western League scores:
Honolulu 4, Seattle 3
Hollywood 7, Vancouver 6
San Diego 9, Oakland 7 (11)
Los Angeles 4, Sacramento 3
Portland 6, San Francisco 5

#BaseballSim #FakeBaseball #ThingsIDoInsteadOfWhatImSupposedToBeDoing

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#NABA #FakeBaseball

Better Know a Team: The Toronto Blue Jays

You'd think the Jays were heading for disaster from the beginning: top earner Dusty Fleming is out to an 0-3 start, and best hitter Marquise Gibson is laid up for another week with a latissimus dorsi strain. But there's reason to believe they will improve on their 8-10 record so far. After all, Nolan Ryan is creeping up the strikeouts leaders board, and 2B Jose Luis Garcia Lopez has hit safely in 14 games.

The rotation: Noodles Hahn, Nolan Ryan, Dusty Fleming, Burt Hooton, Anthony Young

Hooton's been a big plus since returning from IR.

The bullpen: P.J. Conlon, Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky, Jim Korematsu, Claudio Manela, Emiliano Montanez, Ben "Rhino" Rhinelander, Kazuo "The Uzi" Uzuki

Hungo and The Uzi are the effective one-two punch out of the pen, with Uzuki recording 5 saves. Montanez, at 36, failed as a starter and might be on his way out - Steve Hamilton and Dan Bankhead are options pitching in Oshawa. Rhinelander, the only native Canadian on the roster (Thunder Bay) has yet to find any groove so far.

Catchers: Emery Kolb, Duff LaGrow

They've split time pretty evenly behind the dish, and both are hitting well to start.

Infield: 1B Jerry Gonecki, 2B J.L. Garcia Lopez, SS Bert Campaneris, 3B Carmen Fanzone, INF Snuffy Stirnweiss, INF Mario Guerrero

Gonecki, signed for his power, has yet to hit one out this season. Fanzone's been a disappointment, prompting rumors of summoning Cascadian kid sensation Savion Liswick from Oshawa.

Outfield: LF Coco Crisp, CF Willie Davis, RF Marquise Gibson (IR); OF Socks Goldman, OF Horace Speed, OF DeWayne Wise

Somewhat underwhelming group, though Davis is one of the better center fielders in the league.

Eastern League scores
New York 2, Baltimore 1
W- Webb, L-O'Toole, Sv-Miller

Boston 7, Brooklyn 4
W-Wainwright, L-Avery, Sv-Cruz
HR: Morelo (BKN), Argo (BKN), Lansford (BOS), del Rosa (BOS)

Ottawa 8, Pittsburgh 2
W-Pendleton, L-Fitzpatrick, Sv-Izquierdo
HR: Walker (OTT), Bailor (OTT)

Hartford 4, Philadelphia 2
W-Podres, L-Beare, Sv-Cerezo
HR: Colavito (HAR), Scargill (HAR)

Toronto 4, Montreal 1
W-Hahn, L-Czytelnik, Sv-Uzuki
(only 2 hits for the Expos in this game)

Western League scores
Vancouver 8, Los Angeles 2
W-Tiant, L-Goltz, Sv-Alton
HR: Langostino (VAN)

Hollywood 6, San Diego 5 (11)
W-Lidge, L-Sasilvia
HR: Scott (HOL) with the 11th inning game-winner, Keltner (HOL), Fonseca (SD), Freiman (SD)

Sacramento 3, San Francisco 2
W-Capra, L-Okumura, Sv-Marberry
HR: Lowenstein 2 (SAC), Hendricks (SF - one of only two hits for the team)

Seattle 7, Oakland 4
W-Clark, L-Woolford, Sv-Majerus
HR: Pozeliak (SEA), R. Gonzalez (OAK)

Honolulu 5, Portland 4 (12)
W-Ennis, L-Perlmutter
HR: Clark

#BaseballWhenItsReallyColdOutside #BaseballSim

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords
#NABA #scores

Dreadful turn of events at the Yard as the O's come back against the Red Sox only to give it away with gift wrap. This pitching box is a crime against humanity. 15 walks! 4 of them with the bases loaded. No mas!! Only the second loss for the O's, though.

The Phillies went into the bottom of the 9th down 4-3 to Ottawa, but Charlie Smith lined a bases-loaded two-out single into center against Sammy Gervacio, plating Joey Chiu and Lew Ford; Phils escape, 5-4

Elsewhere, Rash Nemain went 5-for-5 again against Honolulu - 11 hits for the series...and Gabriel Dodds moves to 3-0 on the year, shutting out the Angels, 9-0.

EL Scores
Boston 13, Baltimore 8
Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 4 (10)
Philadelphia 5, Ottawa 4
Hartford 5, New York 0
Brooklyn 2, Toronto 0

WL Scores
Vancouver 9, San Francisco 3
San Diego 13, Seattle 7
Sacramento 12, Honolulu 4
Oakland 3, Portland 1
Hollywood 9, Los Angeles 0

#FakeBaseball #BaseballSim #BaseballIsBetterThanRealLife

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#NABA Red Sox at Orioles: Jim O'Toole was greeted rudely by the Sox in the 1st: Dick Chutney whistled it past the mound for a single to score Carney Lansford, and Legend Elms followed with a triple into the left field corner, scoring Chutney and Chet Lemon. Boston would add two more in the 3rd on a Chutney home run - and for good measure, he gunned down Charleston at the plate in the other half of the frame to keep the score 5-0.

The O's chipped away. Pat Patterson's single brought in Charboneau in the 4th, and Orestes Cateyano tripled in the 5th, bringing in Charleston and leading the Sox to pinch-hit for Adam Wainwright at the bottom of the next frame. Lemon made it 6-2, however, against Loek van Mil in the next frame with a double past a diving Maximo Saavedra, getting his first start at third.

But Arnie Portocarrero, on with 1 out in the 7th for Boston, simply could not find the plate. Gibson and Cateyano walked, Charboneau and Patterson doubled, and Mack Selson brought one in on a sac fly before LaTroy Hawkins came in to set Brett Phillips down. Tie ballgame at 6!

Jameis Winston was in a jam in the 9th, as Sandy Sanderson stole second with two outs and went to third on Lemon's scratch single, but on a 1-0 count, Saavedra, now at short, cut off Chutney's grounder and stamped on second to end the frame.

Rogelio Cruz, with 3 saves but 2 blown saves, came out for the bottom of the 9th...and Cateyano promptly singled. One out later, Saavedra, already 2-2 with 2 BBs on the day, unselfishly dropped a bunt - and watched roll over the third-base line. A second attempt popped over his head - Joe Garagiola lunged, but just missed it. Working the count against Cruz to 2-2, Saavedra instead took a full swing at it...lashing an opposite field frozen rope to deep right. del Rosa back...he leaps...IT'S GONE!

Orioles win at the Yards 8-6, to go to 12-1 on the year, and I still swear I'm not cooking this.

Eastern League scores:
Baltimore 8, Boston 6
Montreal 2, Pittsburgh 1
New York 4, Hartford 2 [W-Brandon Webb, L-Johnny Podres, Sv-Stu Miller]
Philadelphia 4, Ottawa 2
Brooklyn 6, Toronto 5 [Dodgers with 3 in the bottom of the 8th; W-Jay Dragon, L-Noodles Hahn, Sv-David Torrez]

Western League scores:
Oakland 1, Portland 0 (11) [Greg LeClair with the only RBI]
Honolulu 10, Sacramento 6 [Rash Nemain 5-5 in a losing cause; W-Diego Segui, L-Boof Bonser, Sv-Rowan Wick]
Hollywood 5, Los Angeles 4 [PH Tony Solaita plates two in the bottom of the 9th]
Vancouver 4, San Francisco 2
Seattle 10, San Diego 1 [Yes, the M's are off the schneid!; W-Bobo Newsom, L-Dave Stieb]

#BaseballSim #FakeBaseball #YesThereIsBaseballInNovember

@RuthODay @olliethewobbly @AlexanderRaine7 @APBAreplay @tabletopmania @cwgrody @YakyuNightOwl @oldladyplays @Eilistraee @WolfofWords

#NABA : Behind the Scenes

As I've mentioned before, the idea behind this sim had three prompts: first, baseball nostalgia; second, experimentation; and third, frustration behind our current politics. The whole scenario is set up like a model railroad and the league is run based on the setup.

First, the boundaries. The majority of the Eastern League is based in the East Coast Alliance, a breakaway republic of all the eastern seaboard states north of Virginia. In the West, there's an independent California, and independent Cascadia consisting of Oregon and Washington, and even an independent Hawaii and independent Alaska. (In real life, the states would likely fracture internally and not break along nice even lines, but I didn't feel like getting that involved in it.) Ten teams are in the Western and Eastern Leagues - none come from what remains of the U.S. (which is presumed to still have MLB, but I don't attempt to simulate it as a rival league). I'm considering other leagues in later seasons, and doing a promotion-and-relegation agreement between the leagues.

The rules are pretty much reverted to back in the day: no time clocks, no DHs, no phantom runners, and so on. #fossil #DontCare

The players are a mix of made-up names or characters, and old-time players brought back at various points in their careers. For the former, I created players from the newly-independent countries, as well as bringing in a small but significant number of foreign players. Players from Europe or Africa? Why not? As for the real major leaguers, I brought in not only Hall of Famers I liked, but also weird and interesting stars, regular guys, bench players, and complete scrubs from baseball's modern-day history. Whatever made for the best story. Is Cal Ripken going to progress from his rookie year as he did in real life? Can Ralph Kiner hit more home runs if we cure his back problem and bring him back? What if Roberto Clemente's plane hadn't crashed? Yes, Moonlight Graham is in the game...so is Boots Poffenberger, because a name that excellent can't *not* be included. And so on.

#BaseballSim #OOTP #FakeBaseball

Playing MLB The Show 16. Game 6 of the World Series. Chicago White Sox could close it out with a win in Cincinnati. Chris Sale on the mound for the South Side. #VideoGames #FakeBaseball