1996 TCBA Today World Series

EMOTIONS......... FANTASY OR REAL???

On Saturday evening February 8, I was fortunate enough to participate in the annual TCBA ritual in Lancaster Pennsylvania -- our world series. Playing before a packed house (about 15 managers and a handful of interested parties) my Bethesda Bambinos were matched against Jim McEneaney's Long Islanders. On paper this was a classic match-up of power versus speed and pitching. My Bambinos, led by Albert Belle won 111 games while cranking 274 home runs (roughly 100 more than the league average) while the Islanders, lead by Barry Larkin, were second in the league with 105 wins and led in batting average and steals. Our pitching, while strong all year paled when looking at the Islanders. Their staff consisted of Mike Mussina as the anchor of the rotation and a bull-pen of grade 26 Troy Percival, grade 24Z's Tony Fossas and Matt Karchner, grade 17Z John Wetteland, and grade 16's Stan Belinda and Jesse Orosco. Getting behind these guys in a game was a formula for disaster...... The wild swings in emotions I experienced that evening in the Willow Valley Resort hospitality suite while participating in this "fantasy" league were quite real.

ANTICIPATION .............

Shortly after dinner that evening and about a half hour before the series was to begin I had a chance to reflect on the past 10 years of world series that I had witnessed. A past championship of my own; a 7th game steal of home to win; a reserve catcher, playing because of injury, hitting 2 home runs in game 7 to win it all. I had no idea how this year would play out, but I was looking forward to a competitive series and having fun for the next 2 or 3 hours. I was confident the crowd would be entertained as the series progressed and I was hopeful of emerging with the coveted TCBA championship plaque at the series conclusion. Let's get it on!

THOSE BUTTERFLIES ...........

Can a 39 year old man feel the nervous excitement in the form of butterflies just before the start of a fantasy league world series? For those that know me I'm a pretty cool customer.. tough to rattle.. been described as unflappable...... So I had butterflies..... it doesn't make me a wimp or anything. Does it?

CAMARADERIE, THE HANDSHAKE ..........

As Jim and I finalized our opening game line-ups and began to play the TCBA's first world series using Baseball for Windows, we wished each other good luck and shook hands. This display of sportsmanship, I am proud to say is a tradition in the TCBA, and the gathering at Lancaster demonstrates that our league is more about friendship than it is about winning and losing. The friendships are genuine and have kept the league going strong for over twenty years now. Now then, let's get it on!

A COLD SLAP IN THE FACE ........

What can I say about game one? It was interesting for about 2 innings. The Islanders pounded Shane Reynolds early and often. A four run third, followed by a 3 run fourth, then a 2 run sixth salted this one away early. Trailing 10-1, we put up four meaningless runs late. The Pepsi I was sipping started to taste a little less sweet.... The Islanders 14 hit attack was well distributed, with Wade Boggs and Barry Larkin going deep in the rout. Mike Mussina dominated in his six innings against us. Game two becomes a very important game. We don't want to dig ourselves a 2-0 hole.

A BLOW TO THE MIDSECTION ........

Jim extends his hand for good luck before the start of game 2. My experience has been this is done just before the series, not each game. What a nice gesture. I wish him luck and shake his hand..... The Islanders start right where they left off in game one. They score three runs as five consecutive batters reach base (three on Ramon Martinez walks). We step up in the bottom of the inning already in need of a rally. Rickey Henderson slaps a single, and Craig Biggio executes a perfect hit and run single and we're back in business. First and third no outs and Albert Belle strolling to the plate. Now let's see..... Albert hits into a lot of double plays and we are down three runs...... It would be a shame to let this rally die on a DP at this point... We need lots of runs not just one .... let's hit and run. "And Belle swings and misses, Ausmus fires to second, Biggio is caught in a run-down, now they throw to third and NAIL HENDERSON." Oh Boy, that worked out really well..... Belle proceeds to pop out and Edgar Martinez bounces back to the mound. We end up with squadoosh. In the third inning the Islanders AGAIN put five consecutive batters on base (this time with bottom of their line-up) and stretch the lead to 6-0 and down-grade our starting pitcher for the second consecutive game. It goes from bad to worse from there as the game ends with a 10-0 final score. After two games we are being outscored 20-5 and out hit 28-14. We do lead in errors 3-0, however. The spectators are finding other things to do at this point. They are taking an occasional peek at just how ugly the car wreck is. The energy in the room generated by the world series is waning. There has yet to be an interesting point in a game to watch. Each game has been over almost before they began. Can this possibly get any worse?

DESPERATION ..........

Let's face it, we have to win this game. If we go down 3-0, it is practically over. You just don't come back from three down against a team of the Islanders' quality. Let's hope we can get off to a decent start and still be in a game by the fifth inning for crying out loud..... Jim extends his hand for good luck before the start of game 3, I look at it a little skeptically (given what has transpired in the first two games). I shake his hand anyway and muster up a "good luck".... Edgar Martinez gets us on the board with a solo HR in the second, and Mike Piazza adds another in the fourth to put us up 2-0. I was starting to believe we would never even LEAD in a game. The Islanders score a run in thebottom of the fourth, and after five innings the game is in the hands of the bull-pens. Tony Longmire cranks his second consecutive pinch hit RBI in the series to pull the Islanders even in the seventh a 2-2. As we continue to be rally-less against the powerful Islander pen, our number one pitching weapon, grade 28Z Jose Mesa is forced into the tie game in the bottom of the 8th. He does his job as the Islanders go quietly in the 8th, 9th and tenth. We put runners on second and third with one out in the 9th and a runner on second with one out in the 11th, but can't get a clutch hit to save our souls. We head to the bottom of the eleventh with a fully fatigued Mesa out of the game and Dave Leiper on the mound to keep us from going down 3 games to none.... "Lance Johnson hits one deep to right ... and its GONE." Islanders win 3-2.

FRUSTRATION ........

Holy *$##%! How can we play well all year and get hammered like this in the world series, of all times? I don't know, but it is surely happening.... Come on fellas, lets at least win a freaking game shall we? -- the team rally becomes -- no sweep. Pitiful.

SCREW THE PEPSI ...........

After game three I looked to my good friend Frank Howard and make my first intelligent move of the evening. "Frank, get me a beer would ya"? We have gotta try something different at this point..... One of the benefits of having Reynolds get hammered in game one is that he is eligible to start again in game four, as is Mike Mussina for the Islanders. Let us hope we don't get a repeat of game one. After the line-ups are set Jim offers his hand for good luck......

NOTHING PERSONAL BUT I THINK I'LL PASS .........

I refuse to shake hands. That's right I refuse to shake hands. I'm not proud of it but I had to try something new. "When the series is over Jim, I'll be happy to shake your hand." For now my superstition of bad things happening following the hand shake is too powerful to ignore. I just can't do it. With beer in hand we begin game four.....Game four starts much like game three, with solo HR's by Belle and Piazza, the Bambinos take a 2-0 lead through two. Shane Reynolds is pitching the game of his life and continues to pour through the Islander line-up with nary a scare. We add a run on a Jay Bell RBI and head to the eighth with a 3-0 lead. Jay Buhner comes up with a man on first with one down and promptly hits into a double play. I go on a diatribe criticizing his unproductive season, his failings in the clutch and generally questioning his manhood..... We head to the bottom of the inning. If we are to have any chance of getting back in this series we needed a big game from Reynolds. Our pen needs the rest badly.. and hell, Mesa is unavailable. If we can just squeeze two more innings out of him..... but nooooooo....... Those damn Islanders just won't quit and in the bottom of the 8th Barry Larkin rips a 2 run HR to cut the lead to 3-2. We go all too quietly in the ninth and Reynolds starts the bottom of the ninth. Greg Jefferies flies to center to lead off the inning, just two outs to go and we will actually win a game! Here comes Tony Longmire to pinch-hit. Oh jeez, not him again. Tony rips a stand-up double and represents the tying run. Reynolds has had a good day, but he obviously can't finish the deal. Mike Timlin comes in to attempt to slam the door and gets Chipper Jones to pop up for the second out. Thomas Howard comes to the plate, however, and whistles a single to left field, the average speed Longmire is sent home and Albert Belle fires it home, we don't cut the throw as we feel we can nail him at the plate and he SNEAKS IN UNDER THE TAG. The game is tied. I can't believe it. This is just not meant to be...... Lance Johnson, game three hero, comes up with the winning run on second. He bloops one to right field and IT FALLS IN FOR A HIT. Howard is speeding around third. The game, series and season is over, there is no way we can throw him out on this play .......

A TOUCH OF FLESH .............

I turned to congratulate Jim on a great season and an even better world series as the throw from Jay Buhner attempting to catch the speedy Howard comes to the plate. Our hands touch... but before they could clasp...... AND HE'S OUT AT THE PLATE..... Our hands recoiled quicker than you could say "Holy cow." The Bambinos had two legs, an arm and most of our torso in the grave, but now we are still ALIVE! The room comes alive and Marty Fiehl could be heard to say in the background. "This could be the turning point. This will be a great story when Bethesda comes back and we have a game seven." What the hell is he smoking? In the eleventh inning the Islanders' Wade Boggs made the team's first error of the series on a Mike Piazza grounder. Jay Buhner follows with a titanic blast off Tony Fossas. I guess we now know how to motivate Jay -- just insult him! Larry Casian saves the game without causing further heart strain on the Bambino management. We actually won a game!

OLD MR. MO.............

Sorry Jim, I just can't shake your hand before game five.... The momentum had indeed shifted as the Bambino's scored in each of the first three innings to take a 4-0 lead, Albert Belle, Mike Piazza and Rickey Henderson and Edgar Martinez all contributing. Ramon Martinez comes up big on the mound and the Bambinos take a 5-1 lead to the bottom of the ninth. Again our starter can't finish the deal and against all wishes Jose Mesa is forced to enter the game with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. He gets Chipper Jones and Jeff Cirillo without any difficulty and game five goes to the Bambinos. We are heading back to Bethesda for game 6!

HOPE ..........

While not long ago we were hoping to just win a game.... winning the series is starting to feel like a real possibility... probably false hope... but we got a shot. Uhhhhhh, no thanks on that handshake Jim..... Kirby Puckett doubles in a run off our season's biggest over achiever -- Mark Langston, but Albert Belle rips a two run triple in the third and Jay Buhner adds a solo HR in the third and we lead 3-1 after six innings. That is all management will allow Langston to go, and they turn it over to the bullpen. To have a chance in game seven, they feel they need a fully rested Mesa. Dave Leiper pitches two solid innings. We go to the ninth leading 4-1, but the Islanders again will not go quietly. The score a run on a Chipper Jones double and bring the tying run to the plate. Larry Casian enters the game and retires both remaining batters. The series is tied. WE ARE GOING TO GAME SEVEN!!

THE ODDS ARE AGAINST US (BUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW)...........

Game seven pits Islander ace Mike Mussina against Tim Belcher. A serious mismatch. And although the Bambinos have managed to rest Mesa for this game, the rest of their bullpen is in shambles. The Islander pen is in much, much stronger shape. The Bambinos must also start the game without Mike Piazza and Rickey Henderson in their line-up as well. The odds are definitely against us......Jim doesn't even offer his hand as the game as about to begin, he knows by now it would be refused...... My beer is just now running out. "Where is Frank Howard, where is Frank Howard?" I say semi-panicked. "Frank bring me a beer, would you?" No one else would be allowed to bring me a beer, nor could I get one myself-- it had to be Howard! It is not that I'm superstitious or anything.........Let's rock.......... The Islanders draw first blood with an RBI single by Boggs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second Buhner singles and Cecil Fielder, 0-for-11 in the series, homers to left field off of Mussina. Bambinos lead 2-1. Jay Bell stands in next.... AND MUSSINA IS HOLDING HIS WRIST.... THEY ARE TAKING HIM OUT OF THE GAME. Woaaaaaaaa. The crowd erupts at the development. The Islander pen will be tested now as there are eight innings to fill. The Bambinos leading 2-1 going to the third pull Belcher. R. McDowell has had an effective season. If we can get three innings from him we should be OK..... Well.....we got one... In the fourth a two out double by Jefferies ties the score. Lance Johnson strikes out to end the inning BUT THE BALL JUMPS OUT OF REED'S GLOVE.... AND HE'S SAFE AT FIRST. One batter later Boggs drive in two more to give the Islanders a 4-2 lead. Oh boy. Down two runs against that damn bull-pen. I've got to bring Mesa in the fifth inning just to keep us within two, otherwise this comeback is going to fall painfully short. Albert Belle doubles in a run off Orosco in the sixth to pull us within one. Mesa does his job pitching a scoreless 5th, 6th and 7th and getting an out in the eight. Terry Clark gets out of an eighth inning 2 on 2 out threat by getting Lance Johnson. Albert Belle comes up big again in the eight by scoring F.P. Santangelo, aboard via a HBP, with a double off of Matt Karchner. The game is tied at 4 going to the ninth!! Terry Clark retires the Islanders 1-2-3 . Score a run and we have the championship, one stinking little run, come on ........ Fossas nails us 1-2-3, including a Mike Piazza out pinch hitting for Clark. The only pitcher we have left is mop-up man Scott Sanders, grade 7. We have him on the roster to pitch middle innings in blow-outs. Now he is THE MAN in extra innings of GAME SEVEN OF THE WORLD SERIES. Lord. He has been torched all year. Fossas grade 24Z is in for the Islanders. It doesn't look good, hell defeat in almost inevitable...... Sanders starts the 10th -- he strikes out Jones, he strikes out Howard and gets Alicia to bounce back to himself. Come on boys, just one little run...... A 1 and a 2 and a 3 outs. Not even a threat. Sanders is back out there in the eleventh. He strikes out Ausmus, but Jeff Cirillo ends the Sanders streak by taking him UH OH! yard. 5-4 Islanders. Sanders escapes without further damage as we head to the bottom of the eleventh. Fossas needs only three outs for the Islanders to be champs. F.P. Santagelo leads off the inning and hits a little bloop -- IT FALLS, man on first. Santangelo slowed down by his earlier HBP is just a speed seven. Rickey Henderson is on the bench, but I can't use him because he can't play in the field and no one else is available. Have to blame that one on the manager I guess. I refuse to bunt with the AL leading hitter, Edgar Martinez..... just don't hit into a double play and make me look like an idiot, Edguardo...... and its a grounder and IT SNEAKS THROUGH for a single. Runners are on 1st and 2nd with NO outs and Albert Belle coming up. Jim hits the 'P" key and as I reach to hit "enter" when Jim Lafargue (about 4 rows deep in the onlookers) says "Gonna have Albert Lay one down?" After a nice laugh all around I hit the enter key and Albert, 202 RBI for the season Albert, 58HR Albert, DETONATES the ball deep into the left field bleachers for a three run HR and 7-5 Bethesda victory and TCBA championship. The room erupted with the same intensity Albert's shot had and I, truly stunned by events first shook hands with Jim McEneaney, who warmly shook back, I then received congratulations from the rest of my fellow TCBA managers after these truly shocking series of events.

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