By Paul Sullivan
TRIBUNE REPORTER
CHICAGO- A strong postseason has put the Chicago Cubs in good position to be the first Branch Rickey World Champions. They received the #1 seed and a first-round bye after posting a 97-65 mark during the regular season, and capitalized on it.
The Divisional Series matched them against the Columbus Moon Devils, the top Wild Card team. But the Cubs were too much, winning in three straight games on the strength of a pitching staff that shutout Columbus in two of those games.
Next up, the New York Knickerbockers. NY is a good team, but their whiny owner quit on them halfway through the season making their playoff run even more improbable. After splitting the first two games, Chicago exerted its dominance by pounding the helpless New York team that was led by the ageless manager, Simmy McSimmons. In the five game series the Cubs outscored NY 43-14.
And on to the World Series, where Game 1 was more of the same- a 16-3 Cubs win, led by Artie Wright's two grand slams in the first two innings all but ending the game right there. Midseason acquisition Charlie Crow added two more homers adding to his incredible postseason run (1.428 OPS, 9 HRs in 9 games). And toeing the hill in Game 2 is Geraldo Garrido, who has followed up a 13-3 regular season w/ an amazing postseason (3-0, 0.39 ERA) highlighted by his epic no-hitter to finish off the hated trooperbud and the Knickerbockers.
But if they think things will be a breeze in the WS, think again. Shakazulu's postseason history of early exits coupled with the Cubs dubious history of finding ways to not win a World Series make this combination a disaster waiting to happen.
When asked, Owner/GM said, "I'm plenty aware of all the doom and gloom that goes along with this franchise's name, along with my history. And ya know what? I don't give [darn] about it. The game's not played in the past, or on paper, it's played in a little computer engine somewhere in Ohio, I think."
Well, the Kansas City Monarchs will certainly have something to say about things before all is said and done. They admitted coming out flat in the first game, citing some "extracurricular activities" the night before laying a Game 1 egg. Cubs fans shouldn't expect the same performance, as a KC win in Game 2 would give them home-field advantage and the momentum heading back home for games 3-5.
As dodger said, "A loss is a loss, I don't care if it's 16-3, 1-0, or 100-0, we move on to the next game looking to even the series." And of course, he's right. Game 2, which starts shortly, should be plenty entertaining. Let's see if the Cubs can finish this season of destiny, or if the Monarchs knock them back to earth and the curses of the past strike again.
psullivan@tribune.com
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Charter Owners
North Division. The name alone makes you think of smash-mouth, black and blue football; tight defensive, in your face basketball; and most importantly, no DH-having, brushback pitching baseball. This promises to be an intensely competitive division throughout the years, as already evidenced in the first half of season 1 by the NL North having more wins than any other.
So without further ado, here's a quick rundown of the original owners within the NL North for Branch Rickey's first season (listed in alphabetical order):
brickyard9 (Trenton Thunderbirds)- 23 total seasons, 2003-1723 (.538), 10 division titles, 13 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Brickyard9 has been a member of a number of great worlds, including Cooperstown, L.E.G., Negro Leagues, and the newly formed Braggin Rights- an "all-star world" of sorts.
His title came in Hall of Fame world, and he has dominated his division in Negro Leagues averaging 100+ wins since joining. Coming up on the All-Star break, his Thunderbirds boast a .573 win pct and have been leading the division for much of the first half. As long as they're led by brickyard, Trenton should be a division contender every season.
jaymd22 (Minnesota Screaming Eagles)- 8 total seasons, 612-684 (.472), 0 division titles, 1 playoffs, 0 WS titles.
While relatively new to HBD, jaymd has shown he "gets it". This is seen through his team in Public Works which has improved almost every season from 71 wins to being on pace for 99 wins in their current season.
His Screaming Eagles started off the season on a 13-3 tear, but have since cooled and sit above .500 in third place- not too bad for what's currently the best division record-wise in the world. Jaymd will have his work cut out for him in this division, but he seems more than up to the challenge.
shakazulu5 (Chicago Cubs)- 21 total seasons, 1962-1440 (.577), 14 division titles, 16 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Shaka has logged most of his seasons in Ruth and No Quitters!!!, and has owned his division in both worlds (12 division titles out of the 15 seasons between the two). But his WS title actually came in Major Leagues world, which supports the widely held theory that his teams choke in the playoffs (51-58 postseason record).
But consistency is his key as his worst season in HBD was 74-88, so at the very least his teams should still compete. The Cubs should be in good hands w/ shaka at the helm... well, at least for the regular season.
sharkeyke (New Britain Sun Kings)- 7 total seasons, 662-472 (.584), 4 division titles, 4 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Sharkeyke is very eager to prove himself in this division- during world creation he made it clear he wouldn't be taken for granted because of the two more experienced owners in the division. The bulk of his experience comes from Sharkey's World, where his team has averaged 102 wins over the last 6 seasons including 5 division titles, 2 WS appearances and one championship.
His Sun Kings have floated around .500 for most of the first half and currently stand 1-game under. He knows that won't get it done in this division, and you can fully expect sharkeyke to give his team the best chance to make a second-half run at the division.
So without further ado, here's a quick rundown of the original owners within the NL North for Branch Rickey's first season (listed in alphabetical order):
brickyard9 (Trenton Thunderbirds)- 23 total seasons, 2003-1723 (.538), 10 division titles, 13 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Brickyard9 has been a member of a number of great worlds, including Cooperstown, L.E.G., Negro Leagues, and the newly formed Braggin Rights- an "all-star world" of sorts.
His title came in Hall of Fame world, and he has dominated his division in Negro Leagues averaging 100+ wins since joining. Coming up on the All-Star break, his Thunderbirds boast a .573 win pct and have been leading the division for much of the first half. As long as they're led by brickyard, Trenton should be a division contender every season.
jaymd22 (Minnesota Screaming Eagles)- 8 total seasons, 612-684 (.472), 0 division titles, 1 playoffs, 0 WS titles.
While relatively new to HBD, jaymd has shown he "gets it". This is seen through his team in Public Works which has improved almost every season from 71 wins to being on pace for 99 wins in their current season.
His Screaming Eagles started off the season on a 13-3 tear, but have since cooled and sit above .500 in third place- not too bad for what's currently the best division record-wise in the world. Jaymd will have his work cut out for him in this division, but he seems more than up to the challenge.
shakazulu5 (Chicago Cubs)- 21 total seasons, 1962-1440 (.577), 14 division titles, 16 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Shaka has logged most of his seasons in Ruth and No Quitters!!!, and has owned his division in both worlds (12 division titles out of the 15 seasons between the two). But his WS title actually came in Major Leagues world, which supports the widely held theory that his teams choke in the playoffs (51-58 postseason record).
But consistency is his key as his worst season in HBD was 74-88, so at the very least his teams should still compete. The Cubs should be in good hands w/ shaka at the helm... well, at least for the regular season.
sharkeyke (New Britain Sun Kings)- 7 total seasons, 662-472 (.584), 4 division titles, 4 playoffs, 1 WS title.
Sharkeyke is very eager to prove himself in this division- during world creation he made it clear he wouldn't be taken for granted because of the two more experienced owners in the division. The bulk of his experience comes from Sharkey's World, where his team has averaged 102 wins over the last 6 seasons including 5 division titles, 2 WS appearances and one championship.
His Sun Kings have floated around .500 for most of the first half and currently stand 1-game under. He knows that won't get it done in this division, and you can fully expect sharkeyke to give his team the best chance to make a second-half run at the division.
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