Players and Pitchers of the Week for Games 9 and 10

Game 9 (October 27, 2024)

AL Offense – Phil Polakoff, Blue Jays:  4 for 5, 1 RBI, 4 Runs, and 4 Doubles vs. Braves

Honorable Mention: Chad Wolf (Royals), Tim Caskey (Blue Jays), Tommy Hartlaub (Mariners)

NL Offense – Todd Racey, Phillies:  4 for 5, 3 Runs, and 3 Doubles vs. Twins

Honorable Mention: Matt Bradley (Phillies), Scott Friend (Braves), William Graves (Phillies)

AL Pitcher – Chad Farmer, Tigers:  2 Inns, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 1 Walk, and 3 Ks vs. Giants

NL Pitcher – Mark Lomenzo, Marlins:  4 Inns, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 5 Walks, 5 Ks, and a Win vs. Orioles

Game 10 (November 3, 2024)

AL Offense – Michael Lamont, Red Sox:  4 for 4, 1 RBI, and 1 Run vs. Cardinals

Honorable Mention: Michael Verton (Mariners), Scott Trager (Royals), Andrew Mumma (Blue Jays)

NL Offense – Gary Perkins, Rockies:  4 for 4 and 3 RBI vs. Twins

Honorable Mention: Carey Wertz (Giants), Jason Miller (Rockies), Justin Price (Cardinals)

AL Pitcher – Blake Chronister, Red Sox:  4 Inns, 3 Hits, 0 Runs, 2 Walks, 7 Ks, and a Win vs. Cardinals

NL Pitcher – Anthony Simonetta, Rockies:  4 Inns, 3 Hits, 0 Runs, 1 Walk, and 6 Ks vs. Twins

THAR SHE BLOWS!!

MARINERS SAIL PAST PHILLIES TO CAPTURE 2024 WORLD SERIES TITLE

WORLD SERIES RECAP

The Mariners capped a 9-1 season by handing the Phillies their first and only defeat of the year on Sunday, taking the 2024 title with a 7-1 win at McWilliams Field at York Township Park. With two of the league's best pitchers toeing the rubber, it appeared early that runs would be at a premium. After a scoreless opening frame, it was the Phillies who dented the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second. Will Graves singled off of Mariners starter Tommy Hartlaub to open the inning. After a flyout, Ed Miller worked a walk and Bill Anderson singled to load the bases. Tom Anderson then singled home Graves, but the rally ended there when Hartlaub induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. The Mariners responded in the top of third. Roger Andrus and Hartlaub both singled with one out off of Bill Anderson, and Doug Jones followed with a double that chased home Andrus. Hartlaub scored two batters later on a ground out. The Mariners then broke things open in a pivotal top of the fourth, with the damage done by the bottom of their order. Mariners manager Robbie Hughes and Mike Verton began the inning with a pair of singles before a wild sequence shifted the game entirely. Jon DeYoung singled to knock in Hughes, and the throw to nab Verton sailed past third base. Verton then broke for home, and the throw to get him went out of play, allowing Verton to score and putting DeYoung at third with a little league triple. Jeff Martin then drove in DeYoung to stake the Mariners to a 5-1 lead. Verton capped a terrific day with an RBI single in the top of the 5th before Chad Higley took to the hill in relief of Hartlaub. Higley allowed a Todd Racey single to begin the Phillies 5th, but from then on Higley was in control. He allowed just one more baserunner (on an infield error) the rest of the way. Higley's RBI single provided the final margin before he sat down the heart of the Phillies order 1-2-3 in the 7th. Verton's 3-hits led the Mariners offense, while Hartlaub and Higley both had two hits. For the Phillies, Graves and manager Barry Stottlemyer both had two hits. The World Series win for Hughes came in his rookie campaign as manager, and for Jones and Tommy Heffelfinger it was their second straight year as champs as they were both members of the 2023 titleist Guardians last year.

ODDS AND ENDS

In other games from knockdown weekend, the National League won 6 of the other 7 games, going a combined 6-2 for the weekend.  For the year, the senior circuit dominated by taking 17 out of the 24 interleague matchups.

There were a total of 14 HRs hit this year - the same total as in 2023. Unlike last year, when one league dominated the power stats, the home runs this year were split almost equally, with 8 in the AL and 6 in the NL. From an age breakdown, 7 HRs came from players under 50, and 7 came from players 50+.

In the Freddy pick ‘em challenge, 44 people took a stab at besting Freddy Jr and Blaze Ruth, who had identical picks and each went 7-1. A handful of people were able to match the 7-1 mark, but only TWO people were able to outguess everyone and go a perfect 8-0!  They were: Mark Lomenzo (Marlins) and Lisa Quinting (exalted girlfriend). Mark's tiebreaker guess of the World Series score (6-3) was closest, earning him the $25 gift card. Freddy was so impressed that he thinks you deserve extra, so he's going to ask the local pizzeria to cut your pie into 16 slices instead of 8. 

And finally, mark your calendars for the YCOBL 2024 season Banquet and Hall of Fame induction dinner, which will take place on SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025.  More info will be coming out after the new year.

Hope everyone had a fun year and that you all come back again next year. Have a safe offseason and see you in the fall.

Freddy Jr.

MARINERS AND PHILLIES VIE FOR 2024 YCOBL WORLD SERIES

It’s the night before the final YCOBL game of the season, Freddy has a hangover, and he hasn’t even started drinking yet. This likely has something to do with Freddy’s rotary phone ringing non-stop and about 40 messages on Freddy’s answering machine from Blaze Ruth, asking if he's seen the latest pick ‘em standings yet. Freddy even got a telegraph from Western Union, a singing telegram from a Village People tribute band, and smoke signals from the Washington Commanders unemployed mascot. I guess Blaze is trying to tell Freddy something. Okay, okay. Congrats to Blaze Ruth on a dominant season of picking the wieners. Blaze stands at a clinching 52-19-1 heading into the final weekend, while Freddy is a paltry 42-29-1. Freddy will be a gentleman and not reveal what the penalty of losing this season-long wager was, but it won’t be the first time Freddy had to swap something.

BLAZE RUTH’s SUNDAY SELECTIONS 

Hello old timers, Blaze Ruth here and welcome to Knockdown week! It's the week we all rub Biofreeze on for, the week we stand out there, (that last week), freezing our chimmy chongas off for the chance at glory, maybe even a championship! Now a few teams came up short this season and let a rookie manager make it to the big game. What were you veteran managers thinking?? I know it was the umpires' fault, wait it was Jim Cantoris's fault for the bad weather, no it was Meckley's fault for stealing your draft pick, no wait it was Freddy Jr's fault for not picking you. Well, whatever your reason there is always next year! Last week Freddy Jr almost went undefeated, the wrong way going 2-6, while yours truly was 4-4. A big congrats to the two winless teams picking up their first wins, no one likes to be a loser like that Freddy guy! So, what will happen this week, will we get an undefeated champion, will a rookie manager win it all? So here are my picks...

TWINS vs ROCKIES:

This Rockies team should be 6-3 in this reporters' eyes, but they seem to come up short at just the right time, to lose the game. The Twins just didn't have enough Wentland's on the team to pick up wins this year. So, with that said, the Rockies finally get over the fear of being short for Freddy's girlfriend. Rockies by a centimeter.

ANGELS vs PIRATES:

This game features two of the best talkers in YCOBL in Schaale and Hoss. The Pirates have been playing some good baseball against some tough teams the last few weeks, but will they play down to their opponent this week?  Can Brett Herman gain .09 on his batting average for a record? The Angels come in on a 3-game losing streak, can they edge one out to finish off the season? This reporter thinks the Pirates will be the talk of the town. Pirates win.

BLUE JAYS vs MARLINS:

This Blue Jays team was the talk of the town the first few weeks of the season, But their downfall was when Freddy Jr picked them for the WS. This Marlins team has been a sneaky team to pick all year, but I think the Blue Jays are going to come out swinging and never look back. Blue Jays in a blow out.

RED SOX vs CARDINALS:

The "Oh so close" game. These two teams remind me of Aaron Judge, dropped the ball when it counted most. Both of these teams are deserving of the WS, but just came up short. Both of these teams can hit for days, have solid pitching and play good defense. Can Rob Streib collect 5 RBIs for a new record?  How fired up can these managers get their players after just missing out? This is a tough game to pick and could be a high scoring affair, going Red Sox in a shoot out.

In the other 4 games going Braves, Cubs, Giants....

Mariners over the Phillies 10-8…can I win my own gift card??

Best of luck to all the Old Timers this week, may the Ben Gay gods be ever in your favor!

FREDDY JR’s KNOCKDOWN FORECAST

ROYALS vs GIANTS

Freddy was kinda, sorta happy to see both the Royals and Giants capture their first elusive wins of the season last week. But on the other hand, BOO! The intensity of these two teams facing off at 0-9 would have been like a steel cage match, with Jay Fleischer sporting a hand sharpened plastic knife against Ike and wielding not just pepper spray, but Carolina Reaper pepper spray. Thanks a lot for ruining Freddy’s dreams. Still, lots of blood loss and a gang fight through the handshake line predicted. Giants 23-Royals 22.

TIGERS at CUBS

The leagues two strikeout leaders face off against each other this weekend, And how fitting, because these two guys struck out like champs in high school. They strike guys out like a freshman asking out the prom queen. Or like either of them trying to make Freddy pick up the tab. Get well soon, Steve. Cubs.

ORIOLES at BRAVES

This game is to be played at Codorus, which should be good for keeping balls in the park. Freddy predicts a season high 3 HRs in this game, unless the Bravos give Thompson the Drake treatment and bean him every at bat. Freddy would. Braves too much firepower.