Tuber Times 2057.11: Sim #4 Recap

[cheekimonk]

Tuber Times
22 Apr 2057
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney

Boise Spuds 9 16 .360 -7 GB -5.5 WGB L10: 6-4, Strk: L1

Now every Sim but the 2nd, disastrous 0-7 one has been perfectly mediocre. The Spuds came off a loss in the finale of a 4-game series vs Calgary and swept a 2-game set vs Phoenix. Checking the records and, yep, that is the first sweep of the season while being swept 4 times. The Sim goes in the books at 3-3. The margin of defeat in two games - a 8-3 win vs Phoenix and 1-7 loss to Mexico City - was an outlier as, yet again, every other game in Sim #4 was decided by 2 games or less. It's a frustrating trend that seems to hold true in low- and high-scoring affairs. We're not sure what to make of that. Can't say the scoring sucks as Boise surges right along with opponents, but can't say the defense sucks as the team holds opponents in check for some close games. It's quite frustrating for fans. In Sim #4, the Sims again allowed just over 4 runs/game and scored precisely 4. There are obvious metrics that show just how badly the Spuds are struggling, but for stretches of time it can be hard to see from the final scores.

v Phoenix 6-5(10) W
v Phoenix 8-3 W
A 2-game series with the similarly sputtering Talons. The first game started out really well for Boise as they were up 4-0 by the 3rd inning. But Phoenix ambushed relivers Kent Johnson and Pete Bonaddio in the 6th to tie the game. Boise added another run...but so did the Talons in the 9th inning to send the game to extras. In the bottom of the 10th, 1B Alfonso Rúbio walked off the game with a single to score SS Qutuz Mahdi who had doubled 2 batters prior. Boise reliever Bill Keefe made his first spot start of the year and allowed only 1 run in 6 IP. The finale was a relative rout by Spuds standards. Boise bashed Phoenix SP Damian Theophanous for 6 runs in the 3rd and that was pretty much that. Rúbio had an excellent night going 2-for-4 with a HR and 3 RBI. Starter Logan Hill kept up his solid season allowing 3 runs in 7.2 IP.

v Mexico City 4-5 L
v Mexico City 0-2 L
v Mexico City 5-3 W
v Mexico City 1-7 L
The Spuds' homestand continued with a 4-game series vs Mexico City. It went about as one would expect with Boise able to squeak out one win, but it's encouraging that only one of the losses was a no doubt ass-whooping. The Spuds and Aztecs traded blows in the opener with Mexico City just getting the last punch in before the bell. Boise RP Marvin 'Groucho' Winston may have gotten stretched out a bit too long as he allowed the Aztecs winning solo HR at just over 2 IP in the game. The 2nd affair was a heartbreaker for Boise. SP David 'The Fanning from Banning' Molina started and allowed just 1 run in 5 innings while striking out 7 while RP Toshikuni Kubo allowed a 2nd run in the 6th. Two runs was enough as the Mexico City trio of SP Jameel Khanum, RP John Avery, and RP Jack 'Blockhead' Abrams blanked the Spuds allowing only 4 hits with Khanum fanning 8. The 3rd game looked like another loss when Mexico City tagged Boise SP Geoffrey 'Mack's Boy' Greening for 3 runs in the 2nd inning. But the staff held the Aztecs scoreless for the remainder of the game and 3B Gary Allen delivered a walkoff 3-run HR in the 9th. The finale was a rout, but it didn't start becoming one until the 6th inning when Mexico City scored 3 runs. Keefe got another start but allowed 4 runs in 6 IP. However, the team gave up 3 unearned runs thanks to errors by 2B Marcello Custello and SS Qutuz Mahdi, the 2nd and 4th of the season, respectively.