(AP-Boca Raton, FL)
TML Biff Barnes Highlight Reel - October 2009
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Can Anyone Beat the Wombats?

The Walla Walla Wombats just completed the most productive
season in TML history, winning a record 125 games! This broke
the previous record of 121 wins, set by Pensacola back in TML
1993. The Wombats boast the top offense in the league (.295,
1001 Runs) *and* the top pitching staff (2.91). The Wombats
ended up with four 20-game winners (A.J.Burnett 25-5, Cliff
Lee 23-4, Ryan Dempster 22-4, Jeremy Guthrie 20-4) and
nearly had a fifth (Cole Hamels 19-10)! Their "Ace" closer,
Jonathon Papelbon (0.82) was a perfect 42-42 in save
opportunities! This will be a tough team to defeat in this year's
post season!

The Danny Way Diamonds won 108 games and is the Ruth Wild
Card entry this year. They would have won any other division by
a dozen or more games, but never really put any pressure on
Walla Walla after their 17-0 home spurt out of the gate back in
April.

On the other side of the Oceanic Conference, the Steinmetz Wild
Card came down to the final day of the season when 'Skayuna
edged Mudville 2-1 in 10 innings (see below). Despite their
schedule advantage, Valparaiso made the final days a bit more
interesting, losing their final home series to Perth, but still won
the division by 1 game over 'Skayuna.

In the Atmospheric Conferenec, Toxic Waste went 11-5 and grabbed
the Gehrig Division crown. Rocky Mountain nearly blew a 9-1 lead
against Oklahoma on the second-to-last day of the season (see
below). They held on for a 9-7 win and clinched the Wild Card,
beating out Lake Wobegone by 1 game.

In the Gatto Division, Beverly was in prime position to take the
division crown, but dropped their final three games at Duluth.
This handed Rensselaer the division, giving Beverly the Wild Card.

First round playoff match-ups:

'Skayuna at Walla Walla
Danny Way at Valparaiso
Beverly at Toxic Waste
Rocky Mountain at Rensselaer

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Toxic Waste's Mark Teixeira could not overcome his September
slump, but still made a run for the "Triple Crown" in October. Tex
ended up batting .337 for the season, 2nd to batting champion Nick
Markakis (.339) of Walla Walla. Tex tied for 2nd in HRs (41) with
Arkansas' Ryan Ludwick. Burleigh's Manny Ramirez was the HR
champ with 44. Tex did lead the league in RBIs (137) and Runs
Created (167).

Madison's Ichiro Suzuki led the league in Hits again, with 224. The
only other players with 200+ hits were Markakis(208) and Teixeira
(205). Rensselaer's Carlos Pena was quite an offensive threat,
leading the TML in OBP(.445) and SLG (.646). Lake Wobegone's
Jose Reyes led the league in SBs (51).

In pitching, Walla Walla's Dempster led the TML in ERA (2.29). Rocky
Mountain's Tim Lincecum led in Ks (280). Mudville's Mike Mussina
had a league-leading 6 shutouts and Rocky Mountain's C.C. Sabathia
had 14 CG.

The "Fireman of the Year" is Lake Wobegone's Brian Fuentes (53 RP,
50-54 Saves, 1.21). The next five closers on the list are also worth
mentioning: Rensselaer's Mariano Rivera (47 RPs, 1.13), Rocky
Mountain's Joe Nathan (47 RPs, 1.38), Toxin Scott Downs (46 RPs,
1.70), Wombat Papelbon (44 RPs, 0.82) and Valparaiso's Cory Wade
(41 RPs, 1.28).

There were two CG 1-hitters in October, one by Perth's John Lackey
against Burleigh and the other by Beverly's Rich Harden (see below)
at Duluth. Neither ever had a no-hit bid as they both gave up 1st inning
singles. There were five 2-hitters in October.

Below are some awards and tid-bits from October 2009 in the TML
American.

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** Player of the Month **

(WW) Nick Markakis
.444, 24-54, 9-2-3, 46 TB,
13 R, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 26 RC




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** Pitcher of the Month **

(WW) Ryan Dempster
3-0, 0.43, 3 GS, 21 IP, 7 H,
1 HR, 4 BB, 22 K, .101 OAVG



Honorable Mention: R.A. Dickey (DT) who had 4 GS and a 0.35 ERA,
but his 19 BB in 25.2 IP led to just a 1-0 record.
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** Best Pitching Performance of the Month **

Hillbilly Rich Harden gave up a lead-off 1B to T-Cat Ryan Theriot and
then settled down and completed a fine 1-hitter. Harden fanned 13
and only walked one. He struck out the side three times and fanned
every starter at least once in the T-Cats lineup!

10/3/2009, BV08-DT08, Angel Stadium
_____________1 2 3__4 5 6__7 8 9_____R__H__E
Hillbillies__0 0 0__2 0 0__0 0 0 -___2__8__0
Thunder Cats_0 0 0__0 0 0__0 0 0 -___0__1__0

Hillbillies___ ___IP__H__R_ER_BB__K__ERA
Harden W 12-4____9.0__1__0__0__1_13__2.93

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** Best Offensive Performance of the Month **

Avalanche Kelly Shoppach had a nice final day of the season, going
3-4, with 2 HRs, a 2B and a BB, in leading his team to a 13-2 good
ole fashioned whupping of the Nine.

10/18/2009, AV08-M908, Shea Stadium
____________1 2 3___4 5 6__7 8 9_____R__H__E
Avalanche___0 1 1___1 5 0__4 1 0 -__13_13__1
Nine________0 0 0___1 0 0__0 1 0 -___2_11__2

Avalanche_______AB__R__H__BI____AVG
Shoppach c_______4__3__3___6___.275

2nd: F7; 4th: HR; 5th: 3-RBI-HR; 7th: 2-RBI-2B;
9th: BB
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** Overtime Game of the Month **

The longest extra-inning game of the month came in the last reported
series of the season and in the final game of the season, in which the
Blue Jays edged the D-Cats 2-1 in 15 innings. In the top of the 15th,
Blue Jay Michael Bourn drew the dreaded "2-out walk!" He stole
second and scored on a 1B by Fernando Perez. Troy Percival finished
3 solid innings of relief to earn the marathon victory.

10/18/2009, BB08-PC08, Fenway Park
_____________123_456_789_112_345____R__H__E
Blue Jays____000_000_001_000_001 -__2__6__0
Diamond Cats_000_000_010_000_000 -__1_11__1

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** Wild Card Clincher for Rocky Mountain **

The Chinooks nearly blew a 9-1 lead in the 9th, but managed to hold
on, winning 9-7. Their normal closer Joe Nathan was not available,
having saved a 10-9 11-inning win the day before. This gave the
Chinooks a 3-game lead over Lake Wobegone with 2 to play and thus,
the Gehrig Wild Card. The agonizing 9th inning for the Chinooks was
marked by four walks (two with the bases loaded) and a 2-out Grand
Slam by Mike Napoli.

10/17/2009, OS08-RM08, Metrodome
____________1 2 3__4 5 6__7 8 9_____R__H__E
Supercells__0 0 0__0 0 0__1 0 6 -___7__9__0
Chinooks____0 0 0__0 1 0__7 1 x -___9_12__0

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** Wild Card Clincher for 'Skayuna **

Going into the final day of the season, the Squires led the Nine by
1 game. When Victor Martinez singled home Alexi Casilla off Nine
"Ace" closer B.J. Ryan, it gave the Squires a 2-1 victory and a trip to
the playoffs. It ended a storybook season for the Nine, who were
bidding for their first trip to the post season (as Mudville) and the
first for the franchise since 1998.

10/18/2009, M908-SS08, Yankee Stadium
____________1 2 3__4 5 6__7 8 9 10____R__H__E
Nine________0 0 0__0 0 0__0 1 0 _0 -__1__7__0
Squires_____0 0 0__1 0 0__0 0 0 _1 -__2__9__0

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Up next ... first round playoff highlights!

Staff Columnist - Biff Barnes