The View From Wisconsin

The Bud Selig Series is over. The 2008 squad won in five games - it wasn't really close at all, in truth - but there were some moments that brought out a couple of issues I have with LONGBALL.

First of all, in game four, Moose Haas threw a no-hitter.

I'll let that sink in for a moment. It wasn't until after the fact that I realized I had transcribed his Pitcher Rating (the I-II-III-IV rating based on ERA) incorrectly. Because of the Type Adjustments that affect the first 13 spots on the playing board - which are pretty much all the hits on the board - he got break after break. The game ended with Mike Cameron grounding out to Jim Gantner for the final out.

I made a change afterward to the game board - the type adjustments for spots 8-13 on the board are now only good if the result came from the pitcher's rating card, and not the hitter's.

Sanity was restored in game five when CC Sabathia shut out the '82 squad - but that game had its own drama. First of all, Sabathia homered off of Vukovich in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, I had to give a "warning" to both benches as Vukovich hit Fielder for the second time in the game - and his fifth on the night. (I think it was more that I was getting tired of rolling HBP calls by that point, but still).

In the top of the ninth, CC got two quick outs from Simmons and Thomas, but then Ben Oglivie drew a walk. Marshall Edwards (who has an F-9 rating) went in to pinch-run for Benji (an S-3), and advanced to second on a Charlie Moore infield hit. Gantner hit a little bloop into left that loaded the bases - and once again a pinch-hitter was called on by Harvey Kuenn. Since he'd already used Rob Picciolo, Mark Brouhard and Edwards, the only one he had left on the bench was backup catcher Ned Yost.

On a 1-0 pitch, Yost hit a line drive that caught everyone by surprise - especially Charlie Moore, who was on the run between second and third. The ball hit him squarely in the posterior region and caromed towards second, where Weeks scooped the ball up and tagged second. The umpire at second immediately threw his hands up in the air and called Moore out to end the game and the series.

I actually had to do a double-check of the rule for that result; if a batter is hit by a line drive when they are not standing on the bag, they are considered out and the ball is dead.

Anyways... I think I've finally put the finishing touches on the game to where I can use it on a regular basis - including updated rating cards, scorecards and count sheets.