With just a week to go before opening day, the Mega City Gimps decided to flex its muscles and confidence for the coming season, challenging all parties to a playoff series duel for $100 prize money.
Wheeling vs. Mega City – 5 games
First up, The Wheeling Screamers, who also open the season against Mega City, decided to take the best (with modifications) to test the waters on its own club. Prior to the start of the series, GM John Stryker arrived in NYC for the game and met for the first time fellow GM Scot Sabatini of the Tuscany Vespas for happy hour at the famous Sabatini Fire Escape in Midtown. Stryker explained how seeking to defer the impact of a winner-take-all series against Mega City, he agreed to a five game series with each team using it’s five-man rotation for a straight $20 a game.
“I mean, maybe I win a little, maybe lose $20 or $60,” Stryker said. “But I want to see how this team competes.”
With a final toast Stryker went back to his hotel to take on the Gimps, full of confidence boosted by a couple of drinks and some great happy hour samplings.
A few hours later a text arrived with a definitive mood change: “Kessleman kicked my ass,” Stryker wrote. “The great experiment may be a failure. 0-5.”
OUCH.
Mega City v. Tuscany — Best of 5
Knowing Mega City was on a hot streak, the following night Tuscany hosted a best 3 of 5 against the Gimps with another C-Note on the line.
And for the first six innings, the Vespas were feeling the Screamers’ tears. Ace Cole got worked. The Vespas trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the 7th, 2 outs, base loaded, and #1 pick Bryce Harper up.
Ballpark 1-2… and it’s gone! Grand Slam, leading the Vespas to a 7-5 opening game win.
Kesslemen texted: “What a roll. Felt like I was in a good spot.”
The Gimps came roaring back in Game 2 against newly acquired co-ace Bryce Snell for 7 runs. Wacha carried a no-hitter into the 7th and the Vespas rode meekly into the night with a 7-0 home loss. Macha had 14ks on the night. The series switched to Mega City, with the Gimps confident. Only a freak Harper slam had deterred a series romp. Tuscany’s Two Super Vespas had yielded 12 runs in two starts.
Game 3 in Mega City has the Gimps Jordan Montgomery vs. Tuscany’s Sandy Alcantara. Finally, the Vespa took an early lead with, you guessed it a Bryce Harper HR to spot Alcanta 4-1.
Kessleman text: “I’m not liking him.”
Sabatini text: “I’m sure you regret taking Soto over him in Round 1”
Kessleman Text: “Made him mad.”
As the Gimps rallied in the 4th, getting traffic on the bases, Sabatini made an early hook and brought in … co-closer Jose Alvarado?? Even the lefty was stunned, still lacing up the sneaks as he ran to the mound. But he did his job and quelled the rally against the Gimps lefty-loaded line up. Wanting to force the platoons, Tuscany’s let it ride with bulk lefty reliever Matt Straham, who then passed the baton throughout the bullpen to silence the Gimps offense for the first time. Oh and Harper added another HR as well to break it open. 9-1 final.
Game 4: Gimps needing a win with an eye on Cole for Game 5 but in the top of the first, yep, Bryce Harper goes yard again for a 2-0 Vespa lead. Mega City loaded the lefties against Tuscany Starter Nick Pivetta, but again Sabatini pulled the Sparky Anderson imitation and quick hooked the starter after two, bringing Strahm back for the lefty gauntlet. The Vespas tacked on another run against Montgomery, and the one righty to face Straham in the bottom half returned the favor making it 3-1 Vespas into the 5th. Bottom of the fifth Strahm got 2 outs around a walk but had to face Juan Soto as the tying run. Sabatini, foot on the top step, grumbled… one more batter, which was one batter too many as Soto tied the game with his first series bomb. The Vespas took the lead back in the top of the 7th with yet another Harper bomb (Kesselmen text: “Sigh…”, but the Gimps answered to tie. In the top of the 8th, Tuscany played small ball to bring home another run and take the lead. This time Closer Jason Adam shut it down with a six-inning, series winning save.
Playoff baseball.
The paypal $100 arrived with a simple note from Mega City. “Bryce Freaking Harper.”
It may have been Big Papi from the 2013 Red Sox in disguise. Final Stat line for Bryce: 9 for 16, 3 doubles 5 HRs, 7 Runs Scored and 9 Rbis.
On to Opening Day!
One response to “Preseason Playoffs? What $100 can do.”
The karma of the universe works out (as always) I guess. My money was no good with Scot at happy hour as he was incredibly generous. I guess he ended up whole once my $100 got to him, shuttled through Eric for a day.
It was my first time really in New York – I did change planes never leaving the airports, once at LaGuardia and once at JFK, over forty years ago. It won’t be my last though, as I had a great time.