EXPOS TAKE '28
Expos Send Offensive Sox to Cleaners in Seven

Post-Season Fever

The 1928 playoffs feature an exact duplicate of the 1927 matchups. However in contrast to 1927 two clear favourites have emerged as both the defending champion Red Sox and the Washington Expos won over 100 games. Before these two titans can meet in the World Series, however, they have to get past their first round opponents.

Redsox vs. Knicks

The Red Sox are coming off a very strong September in which they went 16-7, and won their last seven games including a one game tie breaking playoff in Washington in order to take the Central Division title. They are led by the two biggest stars in Evolution baseball Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth who certainly need no introduction. Gehrig hit .407 to set a new batting average mark while Ruth swatted 54 HR's on the way to a likely MVP award. Overall the Red Sox scored 945 runs (6 per game) second to only the Expos. They are also strong on defense allowing only 761 runs led by Cy Young candidate Dolly Gray (23-8, 2.69) and excellent lefties Garland Braxton (15-8, 3.20) and Bill Sherdel (14-9, 3.73).

The Knicks squeaked into the playoffs with a sub .500 record that was nonetheless good enough to take the Western Division. If they have any hope of an upset it will come on the backs of a very strong pitching staff that was third in the league. Dazzy Vance (18-12, 3.17) and Bump Hadley (14-10, 3.61) are starting pitchers that can match up with anyone. The question is whether they will score enough runs as 726 was worst in the league. Willie Kamm (316/379/441 in a Knicks uniform) had the best season amonst a rather mediocre lineup.

The real drama in this series stems from the fact that both teams are here on the back of the blockbuster April trade that netted the Red Sox Lou Gehrig. Without Gehrig it is unclear whether the Red Sox would have had enough to make the playoffs. On the Knicks side they were 6-18 with Gehrig in the lineup and in last place prior to the trade that netted them Hadley, Kamm, Lu Blue, Kiki Cuyler and Mule Haas, all significant contributers to a salvaged season.

Prediction: Knicks in four

Expos vs. Collusion

The Expos scored the most runs and allowed the fewest and yet still enter the playoffs as the wildcard team on the back of a 10-13 month of September. Still a 101-56 record with a 317 run differential is a mark of a very strong team and definite favourite to advance to the World Series. The well balanced offense is led by gold glover Earle Combs (382/441/527), slugger Jim Bottomley (322/436/619) and catcher Mickey Cochrane (302/402/457) all of whom drove in over 100 runs. The pitching staff is similarly strong led by 19 game winners General Crowder (19-7, 2.98) and Ownie Carroll (19-6, 3.14).

Unfortunately for the Expos they are facing for the second year in a row the Cuyahoga Falls Collusion who have the pitching chops necessary to send them reeling. A team built on pitching this season was no different with superstars Lefty Grove (20-3, 3.00) and Carl Hubbell (13-3, 15 saves, 2.30) pitching from the side of the plate necessary to shut down the potent Expos offense. The question for the Collusion is whether they will be able to score enough runs with a lineup that scored more than 200 runs fewer than the Expos. The key to their lineup is Harry Heilmann (324/380/476 and, his big right handed bat because after him the lineup is surrounded by a solid but unspectacular lot of misfits and rabblerousers.

Prediction: Expos in six

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Pisces Swim Upstream

Adam Comorosky tries to look Salmon-esque.

With three of four playoff teams already ranked and ordered, the Knicks and Pisces still battle for the final spot. Can the Pisces overcome a five game deficent with only ten to play? Or will the Knicks fend off Pittsburg(h)'s comeback and reunite the playoff class of '27?

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Big Poison searches for a fire (or Little Poison).
The interpretation of this picture is open for debate.

Where's the Fire Chicago?

Redlegs drop four of five to the Giants and fall to 8 behind the Collusion B-Team. Despite a starting rotation of Hal Carlson, Ben Cantwell, Ed "the other" Walsh and Ossie Orwoll, the Collusion now seem assured of a second East division title unless Chicago can find some kindling this week when they visit Cuyahoga Falls. Residents of Cuyahoga Falls have been instructed to keep all lanterns away from livestock as a precautionary measure.

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Knicks Charge!

The big news in August was the Knickerbockers getting red hot and going 22-7 to vault into first place in the Western Division setting up an exciting four team race for the division title. None of the teams has been consistent enough to play .500 but each has managed to put together at least one very good month. Whoever manages to do so in September will find themselves in the playoffs. At this point the Knicks have to be the favourite as they appear to be the only team with enough pitching to match up down the stretch.[more]

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Evolution August Report

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Records Set to be Broken

Ruth Chases 56

Whoa. Deja vu.

Gehrig Chases himself

Where am I?

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Evolution May Report

The big story heading into the month of May was the blockbuster
tradethat sent MVP Lou Gehrig from the Knickerbockers
to the defending champion Red Sox. [more]

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Expos and 'Hens Swap Meat

"Come again?"
Marty McManus reacts to news of his trade to Detroit.

Washington Expos acquire:
Jim Bottomley
Alex Metzler
Joe Sewell
Grady Adkins

Detroit Mud Hens acquire:
Joe Hauser
Curt Walker
Marty McManus
Ray Kremer
2nd Round pick

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MVP Sent Packing!
Reigning EBL Champs acquire Gehrig from Knicks
in largest trade in Evo history.

New York Knickerbockers acquire:
1st round '29 draft pick
Bump Hadley
Kiki Cuyler
Willie Kamm
Mule Haas
Lu Blue

Boston Red Sox acquire:
Lou Gehrig
Bill Sherdel
Bernie Friberg
Wally Gilbert

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Evolution April Report

The 1928 season has started with a flourish with an exciting balance
of excellent pitching and hitting performances. [more]


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EXTRA! EXTRA!

Luke Sewell's butcher links Brooklyn catcher to excessive consumption of
swine fat in wake of 11th inning HR to beat Collusion!

Dodgers issue formal statement.

EXTRA! EXTRA!

1929 Playoff Picture
(if you blinked you missed the regular season!)

DODGERS and GIANTS advance to first post-season to meet perennial afterparty-crashers in the Knicks and Lucifer's Expos.

	vs.
	vs.

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Will the stars align for the Amazing Firpo and the Pisces?

As we get set to embark on the 1929 season our third annual preview sees a very competitive season shaping up. After two consecutive seasons with the same four playoff teams look for new blood to take at least three of the four playoff spots in very competitive pennant races. In contrast to last season there is no dominant club looking to make a run at 100 wins as no single team projects to win even as many as 90 games. [more]

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DRAFT COMPLETE


Bandits Love Dickey!
#2. Redlegs select OF Earl Averill #3. Giants select RHP Larry French #4. Dodgers select RHP Wes Ferrell #5. Pisces select OF Johnny Fredericks #6. Pilgrims select C Rick Ferrell #7. Bruisers select 1B Dale Alexander #8.Tigers select Wild Bill Hallahan #9. Knickerbockers select OF Roy Johnson #10. Collusion select SS Lyn Lary #11. Knickerbockers (from Red Sox) select RHP Socks Seibold #12. Expos select Phil Collins

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SCANDAL STRIKES EBL!
Chad Johnson likes to wear pink, lacy undergarments beneath his Dodger Blue.


Joe Boley spills the beans about his former manager.

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Post-Season Awards

MVP: AL SIMMONS KICKS THE (IRON) HORSE HABIT	Cy Young(s): BILL WALKER AND LEFTY GROVE SHARE NICELY

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THE STARS ALIGN FOR
THE FIGHTIN FISH:
PISCES SHOCK THE WORLD!
UPSET HEAVILY FAVORED BOSTON RED SOX IN 6 GAMES

Charlie Gehringer and The Amazing Firpo lead Pittsburgh to victory over Lou and the Babe. Firpo, with one win and three saves in the series, takes MVP.

*****

Record Shattered
GROVE SETS K MARK

"I do what I do. I make people look stupid.
No more. No less."

CRAWFORD TAKES 29 FOR THE TEAM!

SKI (OSCAR) MELILLO BUNTS OPPONENTS TO DRINK! "I just done my job. Coach Greg scratches his crotch and tugs on his lobes. I bunt. Ain't nothing more to it."