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The first round of our fantasy sim saw a couple of upsets and a championship team ousted. The clubs are suiting back up for the second set of best-of-sevens, a round we’re calling the Midsummer Classic en route to the Sweet 16.
A quick reminder of the matchups:
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To the results!
Round 2: Midsummer Classic
Left Half
2012 (81-81) vs. 2003 (86-76)
Round 1: 2012 d. 1956, 4-2; 2003 d. 1984, 4-1
2003 wins, 4 to 1 (5-3, 9-10, 9-8, 8-1, 2-1)
Series MVP: Marlon Byrd, 2003 (.619/.667/.714, 6 RBI)
1989 (67-95) vs. 1990 (77-85)
Round 1: 1989 d. 1965, 4-3; 1990 d. 1961, 4-0
1990 wins, 4 to 2 (6-0, 2-3, 5-4, 7-6, 5-6, 5-3)
Series MVP: Darren Daulton, 1990 (.385/.429/.615, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
2013 (73-89) vs. 1955 (77-77)
Round 1: 2013 d. 1987, 4-1; 1955 d. 1986, 4-3
2013 wins, 4 to 1 (7-0, 4-2, 7-2, 3-8, 1-0)
Series MVP: Cliff Lee, 2013 (2-0, 16 IP, 15 K, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA)
1983 (90-72) vs. 1981 (59-48)
Round 1: 1983 d. 1988, 4-2; 1981 d. 1962, 4-2
1981 wins, 4 to 2 (2-3, 12-10, 4-2, 3-11, 1-0, 4-0)
Series MVP: Pete Rose, 1981 (.464/.500/.500, 3 RBI)
2014 (73-89) vs. 1966 (87-75)
Round 1: 2014 d. 1995, 4-1; 1966 d. 2002, 4-2
1966 wins, 4 to 1 (5-0, 0-2, 8-4, 11-0, 6-3)
Series MVP: Bill White, 1966 (.389/.476/.778, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
2010 (97-65) vs. 1976 (101-61)
Round 1: 2010 d. 2000, 4-1; 1976 d. 2016, 4-1
2010 wins, 4 to 2 (18-2, 5-4, 5-4, 0-3, 0-4, 2-1)
Series MVP: Placido Polanco, 2010 (.500/.520/.542, 2 RBI)
1964 (92-70) vs. 2004 (86-76)
Round 1: 1964 d. 1971, 4-3; 2004 d. 1994, 4-2
2004 wins, 4 to 1 (2-1, 4-1, 1-2, 8-7, 6-2)
Series MVP: Jimmy Rollins, 2004 (.421/.560/.842, 2 HR, 2 RBI)
1969 (63-99) vs. 2017 (66-96)
Round 1: 1969 d. 1968, 4-1; 2017 d. 1985, 4-2
1969 wins, 4 to 3 (10-8, 2-0, 4-5, 5-6, 5-13, 2-1, 2-0)
Series MVP: Johnny Callison, 1969 (.483/.500/1.034, 4 HR, 8 RBI)
Right Half
1967 (82-80) vs. 1958 (69-85)
Round 1: 1967 d. 1982, 4-1; 1958 d. 2007, 4-0
1958 wins, 4 to 0 (3-1, 8-4, 14-5, 6-5)
Series MVP: Richie Ashburn, 1958 (.444/.524/.556, 6 RBI)
1963 (87-75) vs. 1996 (67-95)
Round 1: 1963 d. 2015, 4-2; 1996 d. 1998, 4-2
1996 wins, 4 to 3 (1-4, 3-1, 3-1, 4-0, 2-4, 1-7, 6-1)
Series MVP: Don Demeter, 1963 (.448/.467/.690, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
1991 (78-84) vs. 1999 (77-85)
Round 1: 1991 d. 1979, 4-3; 1999 d. 1972, 4-2
1999 wins, 4 to 0 (6-2, 2-1, 5-4, 4-3)
Series MVP: Bobby Abreu, 1999 (.412/.500/.706, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
2011 (102-60) vs. 1997 (68-94)
Round 1: 2011 d. 2018, 4-2; 1997 d. 2006, 4-1
2011 wins, 4 to 0 (7-1, 7-5, 6-4, 3-0)
Series MVP: John Mayberry Jr., 2011 (.313/.389/1.000, 3 HR, 6 RBI)
1977 (101-61) vs. 2005 (88-74)
Round 1: 1977 d. 1975, 4-0; 2005 d. 1960, 4-0
1977 wins, 4 to 0 (2-0, 6-3, 8-4, 6-1)
Series MVP: Richie Hebner, 1977 (.375/.474/.688, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
1978 (90-72) vs. 1974 (80-82)
Round 1: 1978 d. 1992, 4-2; 1974 d. 2008, 4-3
1978 wins, 4 to 2 (5-3, 11-6, 3-4, 14-0, 3-7, 10-4)
Series MVP: Garry Maddox, 1978 (.444/.444/.815, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
1993 (97-65) vs. 2001 (86-76)
Round 1: 1993 d. 1959, 4-2; 2001 d. 1957, 4-2
1993 wins, 4 to 2 (5-4, 1-7, 3-2, 9-5, 4-5, 7-5)
Series MVP: Lenny Dykstra, 1993 (.444/.464/.889, 3 HR, 7 RBI)
2009 (93-69) vs. 1980 (91-71)
Round 1: 2009 d. 1973, 4-3; 1980 d. 1970, 4-0
1980 wins, 4 to 0 (6-3, 6-1, 6-4, 7-2)
Series MVP: Mike Schmidt, 1980 (.533/.579/.867, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
And with no momentum lost, let’s carry through the Wild Card round and get closer to prime time.
Round 3: Wild Card
Left Half
2003 (86-76) vs. 1990 (77-85)
2003: d. 1984, 4-1; d. 2012, 4-1
1990: d. 1961, 4-0; d. 1989, 4-2
1990 wins, 4 to 3 (7-8, 0-2, 4-7, 4-0, 5-3, 8-5, 5-1)
Series MVP: John Kruk, 1990 (.467/.529/.733, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
Despite 14 hits from Jimmy Rollins, three homers from Jim Thome, and two strong starts from Kevin Millwood, ‘03 blows a 3-0 series lead after getting shut down by Pat Combs and the ‘90 bullpen in Game 7.
2013 (73-89) vs. 1981 (59-48)
2013: d. 1987, 4-1; d. 1955, 4-1
1981: d. 1962, 4-2; d. 1983, 4-2
1981 wins, 4 to 3 (0-3, 1-6, 9-3, 3-6, 1-0, 4-0, 5-4)
Series MVP: Mike Schmidt, 1981 (.346/.469/.654, 2 HR, 5 RBI
2013 led 4-1 after four innings, but Keith Moreland’s two-out, two-run homer off Justin De Fratus in the top of the 8th was the difference in completing the comeback.
1966 (87-75) vs. 2010 (97-65)
1966: d. 2002, 4-2; d. 2014, 4-1
2010: d. 2000, 4-1; d. 1976, 4-2
2010 wins, 4 to 1 (8-3, 7-9, 14-8, 10-1, 4-3)
Series MVP: Ryan Howard, 2010 (.391/.462/1.043, 5 HR, 9 RBI
Ryan Howard’s monster series paced a scorching 2010 offense that also received 14 scintillating innings from Roy Halladay (21 K, 3 BB, 2.57 ERA).
2004 (86-76) vs. 1969 (63-99)
2004: d. 1994, 4-2; d. 1964, 4-1
1969: d. 1968, 4-1; d. 2017, 4-3
1969 wins, 4 to 3 (2-7, 8-6, 2-3, 3-4, 3-2, 4-3, 5-0)
Series MVP: John Briggs, 1969 (.333/.385/.833, 3 HR, 5 RBI)
Another strong comeback in this round, punctuated by Rick Wise’s 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K performance in the decisive Game 7.
Right Half
1958 (69-85) vs. 1996 (67-95)
1958: d. 2007, 4-0; d. 1967, 4-0
1996: d. 1998, 4-2; d. 1963, 4-3
1996 wins, 4 to 1 (5-9, 8-4, 9-4, 3-2, 6-1)
Series MVP: Benito Santiago, 1996 (.400/.435/1.150, 4 HR, 12 RBI)
Benito Santiago puts up the best series of anyone, at any point, to-date in this tournament. He homered in each of the series’ final three games, including two in Game 3’s 9-4 win.
1999 (81-81) vs. 2011 (86-76)
1999: d. 1972, 4-2; d. 1991, 4-0
2011: d. 2018, 4-2; d. 1997, 4-0
2011 wins, 4 to 1 (14-5, 3-1, 10-1, 2-4, 4-2)
Series MVP: Ryan Howard, 2011 (.250/.318/.750, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
Raul Ibanez’s pinch-hit, walk-off, three-run homer off Wayne Gomes in the bottom of the 9th clinches the series for 2011. Cliff Lee struck out 12 over 7 innings in a strong Game 2 win.
1977 (81-81) vs. 1978 (86-76)
1977: d. 1975, 4-0; d. 2005, 4-0
1978: d. 1992, 4-2; d. 1974, 4-2
1977 wins, 4 to 0 (10-1, 7-5, 3-0, 6-5)
Series MVP: Greg Luzinski, 1977 (.467/.529/.667, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
The ‘77 club piles up 43 hits in four games and gets strong starts from Steve Carlton and Wayne Twitchell on the way to sweeping their future selves.
1993 (97-65) vs. 1980 (91-71)
1993: d. 1959, 4-2; d. 2001, 4-2
1980: d. 1970, 4-0; d. 2009, 4-0
1993 wins, 4 to 3 (3-2, 2-5, 3-2, 2-7, 0-4, 5-3, 6-1)
Series MVP: Dave Hollins, 1993 (.308/.357/.615, 2 HR, 5 RBI
A hotly anticipated matchup of World Series participants does not disappoint as it goes the distance. ‘93 Dykstra continues his tear through this tourney, now with 8 homers and 19 RBI through three rounds.
And so the Elite Eight is set! We’ll see who pushes through to the Final Four in the next post.
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