TRADES, TRIUMPHS AND (MAYBE) TRAGEDY

DEEP DOO FOR DARWIN?

MURLOCS MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES

Madtown---Energized by a pair of high-profile trades, the Murlocs took on the league’s winningest club (the Darwin Finches) and prevailed in a pitcher’s duel behind the shutout pitching of Jered Weaver (7-8, 3.61) and a clutch hit by little-used third catcher Rod Barajas to prevail 2-0 on Game Day 79!

The Finches had sent out Josh Johnson, whose 11 wins led the league and whose other numbers were among the league leaders: a 2.81 ERA (3rd), 115.1 IP (5th) and 75 strikeouts (7th). And Johnson, true to form, scattered three hits over seven innings. But in the middle of the seventh, a 59-minute rain delay allowed Johnson’s arm to stiffen and he could not continue. Weaver, meanwhile, had matched Johnson for each goose egg, and was able to continue working into the eighth.

In the top of that inning, rookie Max Scherzer fanned the first batter he faced (RF Hunter Pence). But Dan Uggla (pinch-hitting for Freddie Sanchez) drew a walk. The Murlocs then called upon Barajas to pinch-hit for LF Chris Burke. Barajas had appeared in only a handful of games as a defensive replacement for Jorge Posada, but the wet conditions didn’t dampen his bat: he swung at the first pitch from the hard-throwing Scherzer (1-3, 6.52) and roped it down the line, over the wall in left, a two-run shot!

That was all that Weaver would need! The unsung hero of the Murlocs staff, Weaver would retire the last six hitters he faced for his BARB-leading third shutout of the year, and the former Luchadores had won for the fourth time in their last five games to improve to 31-49.

BRAGA MAKES MARK

It doesn’t hurt to get a clutch homer from an all-but-forgotten benchwarmer to beat your division leader, but the Murlocs were also buoyed by a pair of trades with BARB rivals that involved Madtown cashing in some recently-exercised draft picks. GM Jeff ‘Chops’ Braga reacquired former LH starter Zach Duke (3-9, 6.09) from the Texas Tornadoes for the price of right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Bailey. According to ‘Chops’, "The starting rotation has been plagued with the injury bug, and Duke will be a great asset to the rotation since he is only 26 years old and has many more years to play. In addition, a little bit of salary is saved by making the deal.”

Not standing on ceremony, the Murlocs then packaged away two prospects (LHP Zach Wheeler and RHP Matt Hobgood) for unappreciated Fresno closer Brian Wilson (9.39 ERA in 9 games. ‘Chops’ remarked, “Losing two picks is big, but to receive a proven closer, especially with one getting close to retirement (Mariano Rivera), it was nice to get a great replacement. Plus this trade also saves some salary as well. This was a win-win trade for both teams."

DARWIN: FACING SUSPENSIONS?

Office of the League Commissioner----A pair of surprising revelations of past indiscretions have caught the Darwin Finches in the crosshairs of unfavorable public inquiry and scandal, league officials confirmed, and it is likely that the Unnatural Selections (currently leading all BARB teams in the standings) could face suspensions or other sanctions from the league office. At the center of the crosshairs? Left-handed sluggers Josh Hamilton and David Ortiz!


Hamilton, currently on his second stint on BARB’s disabled list, has publicly acknowledged a violation of his substance abuse program back in January of this year, which became public knowledge when photographs of the Finches star were placed on a web site that showed Hamilton (a married man) ‘partying’ with a group of women in an Arizona bar. Hamilton's thoughts on the subject can be heard here.

Ortiz, the club’s franchise player and (usually) designated hitter, has been fingered by federal investigators as a ‘person of interest’ in the BALCO investigations that have swept up the (mercifully) retired Barry Bonds (Frostbite Falls) and the presently-suspended Manny Ramirez (Madtown). Ortiz denies either criminal wrongdoing or deliberately violating MLB’s policies on the use of what are now being termed ‘PED’s’ (performance-enhancing drugs)….but, as with Hamilton, a shadow has now fallen on the franchise.

“We are investigating the merits of their respective cases,” admitted Commissioner Scott Hatfield. “Mr. Ortiz supposedly has been forthcoming, as has Mr. Hamilton. And yet, we learned about this not back in 2004, when Mr. Ortiz allegedly tested positive, nor earlier this year, when by his own admission Mr. Hamilton suffered a ‘relapse’. We think it is important that any team associated with our office in any way be held to the highest possible standard, and while no criminal charges have been filed, we think some kind of public consequence is likely in this unfortunate situation. Too often, this league has turned a blind eye to misconduct of this sort. That has to change.”

BLACK MESA, CASSELTON MULL TOUGH CHOICES

Insiders reported that the Black Mesa Anomalies have been attempting to deal some of their extra outfielders for either pitching or catching help, but in general players like Reed Johnson or Scott Hairston haven’t drawn much interest. Some speculate that the Anomalies may release one or more players to clear roster spots for rookies or even possible free agent signings, and in doing so may be forced to eat significant amounts of salary.

Meanwhile, the Casselton Horned Toads seem stuck with some players who are not contributing (such as 3B Melvin Mora), or who would seem to be a better fit as a starter for some other club (such as Geovanny Soto). As with Black Mesa, the Commissioner’s Office agreed that changes were imminent but stopped short of declaring either team as being out of compliance. “We’re monitoring their situations,” said Commissioner Scott Hatfield, “and we hope that moves will be made to, ah, align themselves with what our office considers to be, um, best practice. No more questions, please.”

In other BARB action:

BROOKLYN 7, POTTSYLVANIA 2

WP: Scott Baker (4-3, 2.88)
LP: Cliff Lee (6-7, 3.95)

Troy Tulowitzki doubled in a pair of runs in a three-run second and made a pair of sparkling defensive plays to rob Ryan Theriot of base hits, and the Moabs (42-38) stayed within five games of East-leading Worcester.

CASSELTON 14, WORCESTER 4

WP: John Lackey (5-3, 4.06)
LP: Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 5.19)

The Horned Toads clubbed Jair Jurrjens making a spot start for the injured Eric Bedard, as former Eliminator 3B Garret Atkins drove in four runs with three hits, including his sixth boundary belt of the year, as Casselton (44-33) maintained a three-game lead in the Central.

BLACK MESA 5, YUMA 3
WP: Jarrod Washburn (5-3, 4.55)
LP: Roy Halladay (8-5, 3.74)
SV: Papelbon (21)

Adam Dunn and Ian Kinsler each hit two-run homers, and Jonathan Papelbon retired the last five Yuma hitters for his BARB-leading 21st save, as the Anomalies (in the middle of paring their roster) improved to 38-42. Black Mesa leads all of BARB with 431 runs scored.