The Pac-Man Division playoffs are here, and despite last week's little setback, we are still very much in this thing. Our first task is to win a rematch at 9 p.m Tuesday 10/12 against Ctrl/Alt/Del (9-16-3), a team that is shaping up to be our first true archrival. But it's kind of like a bitter fraternal rivalry, because it's amazing how similar (and evenly matched) we two teams are.
This will already be our fourth meeting in 2004, dating back to two games in June when they called themselves Dangerous Machines. Our all-time record against each other is 1-1-1. On Sept. 28 we tied 3-3.
Now both teams have a fall record of 3-1-1. We have scored 31 runs and they have scored 30; we have allowed 25 runs and they have allowed 22. Those differences are negligible, but it's enough to barely put them in second place over us.
Need more? Both teams wear red shirts. It's like we dislike each other because we're so...similar.
Whatever; this game will be a colossal tiebreaker of epic proportions, and the winner goes to the division championship game. So let's review our history versus the team.
June 14: Dangerous Machines 10, Muskies 6. This was the spring equivalent of last week's collapse: We should have beaten a winless team, but we got sloppy and gave the game away. They bunted a lot to get on and then hit a few to the outfield to score. We were really clumsy on defense. They got all the breaks and we didn't. We kicked off the tee so they did too, which worked in their favor. Scotty was the starting pitcher and Gretchen the reliever, but both had equal results. They had a first-victory pile-up celebration on the field.
June 21: Muskies 8, Dangerous Machines 5. We started poorly by trying to throw at every runner and failing, leading to the creation of the ninth commandment. Dave relieved Scotty at pitcher. Down 5-1, we had the legendary fifth inning in which we suddenly hit 10 straight singles to the pitcher with two outs. Seven Muskies scored, and we made a bunch of crackerjack plays to secure the victory. When we had our own first-win celebration on the field, one of them mocked us.
June 28: I harmlessly flirted with their captain at Psycho Suzi's, and the teams seemed to be at peace. But then she moved to Chicago and the Machines transformed into bigger, badder Ctrl/Alt/Del.
Sept. 28: Muskies 3, Ctrl/Alt/Del 3. We used excellent defense to hold them down, but we also suffered through an offensive slump of our own. We hit way too many soft flies. They bunted a lot, but stranded many on base by failing to get the bunters home. They argued we should let their new captain get on base because it was her birthday. Finally Scott tripled, Dave doubled, and three more Muskies singled in the eighth inning to tie the game at the last minute. After the game, Dave confronted their chief heckler, known as the "pony-tail guy." He complained about our 10-single incident on June 21. We made an uneasy truce, but the birthday girl reportedly cried.
Oct. 12: The two teams meet to settle the score once and for all. I want us to hone our combination of finesse and power with a little strategic bunting (in accordance with A Philosophy of Bunting) followed by some well-placed bombs to the outfield. We must avoid the soft fly balls -- if you don't have power, keep it on the ground like never before! And run fast! And if we remain calm on defense and don't freak out if the bases are loaded or a run scores, we will be able to stop their nibbling offensive strategy.
And in case I haven't made this clear lately, let's have fun. As for the pony-tail guy: Let him talk, while we blow him away with our game.
"...but the birthday girl reportedly cried."
wtf?? i didn't know that. why?
oh who cares.
Posted by: Geoff | 12 October 2004 at 01:54 PM