AROUND THE DIAMOND IN THE ABL WEEK 3 3/16/10

BIG STORY: Usually this time of year Around the Diamond takes a look at the offensive numbers through the first three weeks. This year is more of a challenge since not every team has played the same number of games. One thing is for sure, the pitching didn’t look good in the draft and the numbers are starting to prove that theory correct. Two teams have scored fifty runs so far in 2010 with two teams’ four runs or less away from reaching fifty across the dish. Last season only one team had reached fifty runs scored after eight games and one other was close at 48 as C-Bay and Las Vegas showed big bats early in 2009. The big difference is in the overall runs against as in 2010 every team that has played eight games has allowed at least 30 runs with most in the 40’s. Last season, Las Vegas was leading the way with 15 runs against with three other teams in their 20’s after eight games on the slate. Simply put pitching is weak in 2010 and the teams that can score and get some decent pitching will be the teams to beat as the snow starts to melt. Spring is officially only days away as the teams can feel the bats getting warmer and warmer each week.

2010 ABL STANDINGS

NATIONAL W L GB PCT RS RA AWAY HOME DIV VS AD Chesapeake Bay 5 3 -- .625 50 37 2-2 3-1 4-2 1-1 Titusville 5 3 -- .625 42 48 3-1 2-2 3-3 2-0 Orlando 4 4 1 .500 53 41 3-3 1-1 3-3 1-1 Chicago 4 4 1 .500 46 46 2-2 2-2 3-3 1-1 Las Vegas 3 3 1 .500 28 30 2-2 1-1 3-3 0-0 Tallahassee 3 5 2 .375 44 63 3-3 0-2 2-4 1-1

AMERICAN W L GB PCT RS RA AWAY HOME DIV VS ND Barnegat Bay 6 2 -- .750 47 31 3-1 3-1 5-1 1-1 Long Beach 5 3 1 .625 43 41 2-0 3-3 5-1 0-2 Manahawkin 3 3 2 .500 28 22 2-0 1-3 2-2 1-1 Atlanta 3 7 4 .300 45 46 2-2 1-5 2-6 1-1 Syracuse 1 5 4 .167 18 39 0-2 1-3 0-4 1-1

X-PLAYOFF SPOT Y-DIVISION Z- TIED FOR PLAYOFF SPOT, ONE GAME SHOWDOWNS

DEADLINES: Play Week begins March 19th Recap due March 29th 8 p.m. est. Score sheets due March 30th 8 p.m. est.

SCORES CB 10 ORL 3 CB 3 ORL 1 CHI 13 TA 8 TA 6 CHI 4 13 Inn. LV 6 TV 3 TV 4 LV 2 LBI 10 BB 5 BB 5 LBI 0 MAN 4 ATL 1 MAN 5 ATL 1 ATL 6 MAN 4 ATL 8 MAN 3

2010 ABL TEAMS AND MANAGERS: National Division Chesapeake Bay Channel Cats(21st Season) Scott “Commish” Allen th Tallahassee Terriers(20 Season) Don “Legend” Allen Jr. th Las Vegas Vipers(18 Season) Shawn “Fitzdog” Fitzpatrick (Defending Champions) th Chicago Gangstas(18 Season) Anthony “Antman” Marrongelli th Orlando Sharks(11 Season) Greg “Buck” Dietzen Titusville Perfectos(3rd Season) Lennart “Lenny” Saaf

American Division Atlanta Inmates(11th Season) Kevin “Inmate” Kunkle Long Beach Island Starfish(8th Season) Skibby Bomysoad Syracuse Hazard(6th Season) Jason “Coop” Cupelo Barnegat Bay Corsairs(3rd Season) Amanda Macrander Manahawkin Pelicans(2nd Season) Steve “Stevo” Bomysoad

ABL 2010 IP’S Orlando 15 Titusville 15 Syracuse 15 Long Beach Island 15 Barnegat Bay 15 Chesapeake Bay 15 Las Vegas 15 Manahawkin 15 Atlanta 15 Tallahassee 14 Chicago 14

ROLLING DICE?? ( Q and A with Game Play Notes) (PLEASE TAKE NOTE) 1. Crazy Play (#51-85) that reads: Batter by . Dugouts and empty into an all- brawl! and batter are both ejected from the game. Check each for injury. What team must substitute first? Should the pitcher be replaced first or the runner on first base?

ANSWER: This scenario isn’t clearly covered in MLB official rules or the Umpire Manual. This call is a judgment call for the umpires on the field. For the ABL the pitcher must be replaced first then the runner since the pitcher most likely was tossed first for hitting the batter than the batter for charging the mound to start the brawl. Most umpires install a first out then first in process to handle these types of situations.

ABL MARCH EDITION OF COMMISH CHAT: ABL Commish Chat was available for download on March 5, 2010. Please send in any feedback you might have on the show.

BASEBALL THOUGHTS: Posted on a Blog on Baseball Reference in 2009.

Starting and Pinch Running

Posted by Raphy on September 10, 2009

Is it possible to both start and pinch in the same game? Until recently I thought it was not. Then I came across an old game from 1984 and my eyes were opened to the fact that a player could both start and pinch run in the same game.

On July 23, 1984 the Twins and A's hooked up in a game that was decided long before it was over. Oakland was trailing 14 - 1 in the bottom of the 7th when manager Jackie Moore brought in pitcher Keith Atherton to relieve. Atherton gave up a and then retired Tim Teufel to end the . In the top of the following inning, after DH Dave Kingman singled, Moore once again called upon Atherton to sub, this time as a pinch runner. Atherton replaced Kingman at first, took his place in the order and finished the game off as a pitcher.

My initial reaction to seeing this was: "Hey wait! You can't do that!" But as I thought about it, it became more logical. I assume that after the Kingman single, it wasn't Atherton replacing Kingman that allowed him to pinch run. Rather, it was Oakland deciding to forfeit their right to the DH that forced them (and allowed them) to put Atherton on first base. (If this true, then Atherton's being listed as a DH is an ). Regardless of how he got there, Atherton did pinch run for Kingman, even though he was already in the game.

While Atherton was not a starter, the same logic should apply to a starting pitcher as well. If a team wants to forfeit their rights to a DH while he is on base, the pitcher would then take his place as a pinch runner. In that case, it would be possible to start and pinch run in the same game.

EDIT: To further clarify, here is my theory:

Prior to a game a team has the option of giving up the right to a DH. Presumably, a team has the same right at any point during the game as well. Normally this occurs when a team moves their DH into the field. However, during this game, the A's chose to do it at a unique moment. With Kingman at first , the A's decided to longer use a DH. As is required by the rules, when the DH is removed the current pitcher replaces him in the lineup. In this case it meant that Atherton replaced Kingman at 1st base. In this way Atherton "pinch ran" for Kingman.

I hope this is clear. If anyone knows of a better explanation, please let me know.

FUTURE ABL MANAGERS: Reminder to all managers that if you find someone interested in baseball lets get them started in the ABL Developmental Plan playing practice games. Contact the Commish for a sample set of cards/charts and start teaching the ABL’s next Billy Martin the excitement of tabletop baseball.

TRANSACTION REPORT: 3/3 TAXI TEAM: Chesapeake Bay sent down Nolan Reimold and called up Gerald Laird.

3/9 TAXI TEAM: Orlando sent down Chase Headley, Paul Janish and called up BJ Upton, Brendan Ryan.

INJURY REPORT: PLAYER TEAM GAMES ACTIVE WEEK? OFF/IR B. Ryan ORL 5 GM-47 4 J. Posada TV 7 GM-56 5 H. Bailey SYR 6 GM-54 5 J. Broxton(Suspended) TA 5 GM-70 6 C. Zambrano CB 5 GM-58 5 J. Jurrjens(Suspended) ORL 4 GM-60 5 C. Marmol(Suspended) CB 1 GM-52 4 R. Oswalt ATL 15 GM-107 9

RECAPS OF ABL BASEBALL: Tallahassee at Chicago Game 1 Cold, clear and No wind Jackson vs. J.Weaver Chi would get on the board first in this one with 2 runs in the bottom of the first on a JD Drew 2 run DONG! Weaver would be rolling along until the 3rd when Tall would tie it up on a Shumaker 2 RBI ! Then Tally would take a short lead in the top of the 5th on a Robby Cano (Dontcha Know) RBI single to score Kennedy who doubled to lead off the inning. The lead would be short as Chi would get that run back in the bottom half of the frame on a J.Mauer RBI Fielder's choice to score J.Weaver who lead the inning off with a single. Chi would take the lead again in the bottom of the 6th when D.Span singles, steals 2b and then R.Furcal singles him in. Tally would strike back with 3 runs in the top of the 7th to take back the lead they would get an Adam Dunn 2 run BOMB after Cano doubled in Gardner. 6-4 Tally at this point. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Tally would have to go to the Pen and that is when Chi struck. With 1 out they would send all nine men to the plate in the inning getting 6 runs with the big blow being the 3 Run Pinch hit HR from Roberts. Tally wasn't done they would get 2 runs off the Chi pen in the top of the 8th, one on an RBI from Gardner and then 1 run from an Error by M.Young. Chi would get those 2 runs back and add 1 more in the bottom of the inning on 4 singles and a HBP. F.Fransico would come in for the Gangstas and be get Tally to go 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th to seal the deal. Final score Tally 8 Chi 13

Pitching Tally Jackson 6ip, Condrey 1/3 ip(L), Zavada 2/3ip, boyer 1ip Chi Weaver 7ip, D.Oliver 1ip(W), F.Fancisco 1ip

Injuries NONE

HR's Tally Dunn Chi JD Drew, R.Roberts

Game 2 Cool, Clear and the wind is OUT.... Duensing vs. Bannister Chi would again strike first with a lead off Solo shot from R.Roberts. Then in the bottom of the 2nd inning Chi would strike again with a 2 Run BOMB off the bat of R.Roberts. Tally would get on the board in the 3rd inning on an Olivo Solo shot. Chi would add a 4th run in the bottom of the 6th on a RBI Bases loaded walk to Mauer (first run of the game not from a HR). Then Tally would come up in the top of the 7th and get a Morales 2 run dong and a C.Lee Solo BOMB to tie it at 4. This game would need extra to find a winner. Banninster was dealing with 12 K's through 9 innings and Duensing and Broxton were dealing for the Terriers as Broxton was pitching perfect ball with the exception of a BB. Finally in the top of the 13th, Chi would be out of due to his previous starting pitcher biting a nail and him having to pitch the pen deep...so they are left with M.Hendrickson and he would give up an Error, a single and 2 GCF's to the Tally team then in the bottom of the inning Condrey would finish the Chi batters off 1-2-BB-4 (LOL) Final score here Tally 6 Chi 4

Pitching Tally Duensing 7 1/3ip, Broxton 3 2/3ip, Condrey 2ip(W) Chi Bannister 9ip, F.Francisco 2ip, M.Hendrickson 2ip(L)

Injuries Tally none Chi Ant's ego out 2 games.

HR's Tally Olivo, Morales, Lee Chi R.Roberts 2,

Had a great time as usual Legend! Thanks for hooking up on a Sat to get these played! See you in the second half! Antman

Orlando at Chesapeake Bay Sharks invade the Yard for a National Division class on the roller using Skype

Game # 1 Jurrjens vs. Zambrano Both pitchers come out of the gate and toss 1, 2, 3 innings to get things started. Top of the 2 nd and A-Rod hits his first A-Bomb of 2010 to lead off the inning for the Sharks. After a Zambrano throwing error, Ryan Hanigan plated Juan Pierre for a 2-0 lead. C-Bay came right back in the bottom of the 2 nd inning and tied the game on a Will Venable two run blast that landed on Eutaw St. Top of the 3 rd and this game all of sudden got wild in a hurry as A-Rod stepped up with one out and two on base. Carlos Zambrano plunked A-Rod and Rodriguez charged the mound and the all-out brawl was on. A-Rod and Zambrano tossed out for fighting as word came out soon after Zambrano would be lost for five games due to a shoulder injury. C.J. Wilson got the call out of the pen for the Cats and induced a bases loaded to keep it a 2-2 game. Umpire warned both benches that any hit by pitches would be given an and suspended. Two outs bottom of the 3 rd and Jair Jurrjens decides to plunk Craig Counsell and is tossed out and given a four additional game suspension. Very early both teams would have to use a good portion of their bullpens in this wild affair. J.A. Happ came into pitch for the Sharks and Ryan Braun greeted him with a single followed by a 2 RBI double from Justin Morneau. Cats score three more runs in the 4 th and 5 th inning of Happ as Brian Roberts provided the sparkplug with two doubles for a 7-2 lead. Top of the 6 th and Ruben Tejeda loses one and plunks pinch hitter Matui. Only after four batters, Tejeda is tossed and suspended one additional game as the bean wars continue. Top of the 8 th with the Cats on top 10-3 and two outs, Carlos Marmol plunked fellow pitcher Hawksworth and knocks him out of the game. Marmol also is given the heave ho and will sit in game two like most of the C-bay pitching staff. Sharks add a run in the 9 th off JP Howell as both managers are glad this two hour marathon is finally over as the Cats in 10-4.

ORL 020 001 001 4 10 0 CB 022 123 00x 10 12 1

Pitching Orlando L Jurrjens 2.2 Happ 2.1 Hawksworth 2.0 Masset 1.0

Injuries: A-Rod ejected for fighting (3 rd ) Jurrjens ejected and suspended four additional games (3 rd ) Hawksworth HBP Out of the game (8 th )

Pitching C-Bay Zambrano 2.1 W Wilson 3.0 Tejeda .1 Marmol 2.0 Howell 1.1

Injuries: Zambrano ejected for fighting and injured for five games (3 rd ) Tejeda ejected for HBP and suspended one additional game (6 th ) Marmol ejected for HBP and suspended one additional game (8 th )

Game # 2 Kuroda vs. Wandy Rodriguez The former Channel Cat would toss against the south paw in the night cap after a wild bean ball affair in game one. Bottom of the first inning and Mark Teixeria commits the first error for the Sharks in 2010 as Counsell reaches second base. Ryan Braun then steps up and singles Counsell to 3 rd . Corners for the Cats with Morneau at the dish and the Commish decides to play some “Buck Ball”. Braun gets the jump and breaks for 2 nd base as Buck decides to throw through to 2 nd base and Counsell took off for home plate. The throw was late and Counsell stole home on a double steal as Braun swiped 2 nd base for an early 1-0 lead. Cats add two more in the bottom of the 2 nd inning after a Brian Roberts single and swipe of 2 nd base. The pitcher Wandy Rodriguez doubled in Roberts as Beltran singled in Wandy for a 3-0 Channel Cats lead. Orlando put a run on the board in the4th after a couple of walks by Wandy, Ryan Hanigan delivered an RBI double to plate A-Rod to cut the lead to two runs. Both pitchers really settled down through the middle of the game as Wandy left after seven full innings of work. Mike Adams got the call in the 8 th and worked his way around a walk to Ibanez as pinch runner Carl Crawford stole 2 nd and 3rd base. Adams didn’t allow Crawford to score and escaped trouble again in the 9 th as the Sharks put the first two runners on base to nail down the save.

ORL 000 100 000 1 6 2 CB 120 000 00x 3 7 0

Pitching Orlando L Kuroda 7.1 Kuo .2

No Injuries

C-Bay W Rodriguez 7.0 S Adams 2.0

No Injuries

Nice time rolling Buckster on Skype. Great job on March Commish Chat too.

Las Vegas at Titusville The Vipers made the trip from Vegas/Afton to Florida/Endicott for an early National Division match-up Wednseday night. After a little pizza and an inning of on the tube, Saaf donned the BFH in an attempt to distract Dawg from the game action, and...

GAME ONE Vegas ace Danny Haren took the mound against Titusville, with Matt Garza hurling for the Perfectos. Each squad got on the board early with solo shots from Cliff Pennington (I keep wanting to call him "Chad.") and Ben Zobrist. A key two-base error from (not so) Perfecto Utley led to Angel Pagan knocking in two unearned runs with a triple in the third to give the Vipes a 3-1 lead and bringing the Perfectos' into the game. Vegas continued to score and built a 6-1 lead in the sixth, culminating with a two-run bomb off the bat of Mr. Albert Pujols. Haren continued to handle T-ville, and held them scoreless until two meaningless runs in the bottom of the ninth that made the 6-3 final seem closer than it was.

LV 012 012 000 6 12 0 TV 100 000 002 3 8 1

LV PITCHING Haren 9 (WIN)

TV PITCHING Garza 3 (LOSS) Rosales 2 Byrdak 2 Betancourt 2

INJURIES: none

GAME TWO Gabe Kapler got the Vipers off to a good start with a homer in the first at-bat of the game against TV starter Ted Lilly. The Perfectos didn't do as well--Jeter got hit leading off and had to leave the game. Titusville hit back at Josh Johnson early and often, racking up nine singles in five innings, but the hits were scattered and none went for extra bases, so the goose egg remained on the board. Lilly faced a nail- biter in the top of the fifth. With a man on first an two outs, the Titusville manager intentionally walked Pujols AND Holliday to load the bases. It paid off when Upton lifted a harmless fly to center to end the inning. Titusville took the lead in the sixth with a triple from new Perfecto Todd Hundley and a pinch-hit RBI single from Hafner. Three singles from the Vipes in the top of the seventh tied it up at 2-2. That was the score going into the bottom of the ninth when the lefty Okajima came on to relieve Johnson. Adam Lind doubled, and after a ground out, the Perfectos sent Michael Cuddyer to the plate to pinch hit for Ryan Howard. Cuddyer turned on one and snuck it just inside the left-field foul pole for a thrilling 4-2 walk-off victory for Titusville.

LV 100 000 100 2 9 0 TV 000 002 002 4 16 1

LV PITCHING Johnson 8 Okajima 0.1 (LOSS)

TV PITCHING Lilly 6 Mathis 2 Street 1 (WIN)

INJURIES: Jeter (one game, HBP)

SERIES NOTES

* These "power" teams combined for only three home runs apiece. * The Vegas pitching staff issued only two walks! Titusville walked 11, three of which were intentional. * Only one Crazy Play (638). * Josh Johnson allowed 14 hits and struck out only three, yet held the Perfectos to two runs in eight innings of work. * Posada's replacement, Todd Hundley, went 4 for 8, a double short of the cycle, with three RBIs. * Ryan Howard hit six easy flies to centerfield. * Vegas left 25 men on base. Titusville stranded 18. * Pinch hitters went 6 for 11.

Thanks for making the drive, Shawn. Good luck against the Cats. LS

Barnegat Bay at Long Beach Island The first place Corsairs travel down the street (Litterally) to play the Second place Starfish

Game one: Lester takes the mound, a little surprised as his manager had him preparing to pitch game TWO not one, and amongst plenty of smack-talk from the starfish. And its clear that it effects him as he starts off the bottom of the first inning by giving up 3 gcf singles (to score a run) and then a walk. So we are now 6 batters into the bottom of the 1st inning and the bases are loaded with one run scored and 2 outs, and that's when Mr Juan Riviera Hits a , that's right folks, a GRAND slam. Well At least the bases aren't loaded anymore? But Lester hasn't calmed down yet as he Still allows Hannley to Single before finally getting the 3rd out and ending the soul crushing first inning at 5-0. As the second inning starts up the corsairs are far too in shock to be even remotely productive as the only two guys to make it on base were off a walk and an error. But at least Lester seems to have calmed down as he doesn't allow and runs in the second. In the break between innings the corsairs manager runs into the for a quick...."wardrobe" change and as the third inning starts it seems to have work as a series of walks allows either to hit a 2 run Homer followed 3 batters latter by a 3 run shot from Escobar to even the score. However, looks like Lester is Determined to loose this game for his team and allows a run to score in bottom of the third, as Aaron Hill earns his first RBI of the series. Then in the next inning, even though the corsairs couldn't manage more than a measly 2 base runners, Lester goes ahead and allows 3 more to score, 2 of which are attributed to Aaron Hill. That brings the score to a painful 9-5 where it will remain until the 7th inning (coincidentally as soon as corsairs manager called up a bull-pen to start warming up and Lester calms down allowing only 4 base runners in the next 3 innings.) And then Josh Fogg comes into the game and decided to leave a mark of his own allowing the last soul-crushing and 10th run to be scored. Bringing the final score to 10-5 LBI

Pitching Lester, 6 2/3 L Fogg 1/3

Cueto W CG

HR's Escobar Ethier

Riviera

Injuries None

Game 2 The night game brings lackey to the mound to face his former club house. He manages to make the Corsairs proud as he starts the game strong sitting the first 8 batters down in a row. Ellsbury reaches first off an error on the first pitch he see's but Speedy Gonzalez himself is .Platoon 3rd baseman Blum puts the Corsairs on the board first in the 3rd inning hitting a sac fly to score Platoon Short stop Rodriguez. And Its not until the 3rd inning when Dickerson is able to make it on base with a single and a but even that lackey works his way out of. In the fourth inning Youkilis does his best to prove to his manager that he is in fact NOT "useless" and hits a solo shot to start the inning. Lackey keeps it up, catching Hannley as he tries to steal in the 4th, and so on, facing no mare than 4 batters per inning Lackey is impressing even his former club house. To the 8th inning we make it when Cueto allows 3 base runners before getting a double play that forces in a run, and another single off the bat of DH Ordonez to score the fourth run of the game. And Manny tacks on an insurance run in the 9th. Ending the game at 5-0 Corsairs.

pitching Lackey W CG

Washburn 8 1/3 Bard 2/3

HR Youkillis

Injuries None

Manahawkin vs. Atlanta Game 31 Carpenter vs. Oswalt This game would start out slow, nothing but zeros the first 2 innings. Top of the third Mannahawkin would start the scoring with a pair of rbi 1b's by Montero and Sweeney. Mannahawkin would add 2 more runs in the top of the 6th with a 2 rbi 1b by Votto. Atlanta would start to rally in the bottom of the 8th with a solos shot from Granderson. Unfortunatly for the Inmates that was it for the rally. Final Score Mannahawkin 4 Atlanta 1. No Injuries (yet)

Mannahawkin Pitching: Carpenter 9 W

Atlanta Pitching: Oswalt 6 L Carlson 1 Frassor 2

Game 32 Pinero vs Bergensen This game would start off the same way as first one scoreless for the first 2 innings. Mannahawkin would get on the board in the top of the 2nd inning, scoring a run on a sac fly by Aybar and another run on an rbi 1b by carroll. Things quiet down as both pitchers are cruising then comes the crazy play.... Montero is scrambling to get to a and slides in to the Inmate dugout and takes out Roy Oswalt who was resting after game one. Oswalt out 15 GAMES(ugh). The inmates score a run in the bottom of the 7th, Nick Johnson gets a 3b, and Pinero throws a pitch to the backstop scoring Johnson on the . Then manahawkin comes to the plate in the top of the 9th...scoring 3 runs on a 2b by Votto and a rbi 1b by Davis. Final score Mannahawkin 5 Atlanta 1. Oswalt injured out for 15 games.

Mannahawkin: Pinero 9 W

Atlanta: Bergensen 9 L

Game 33 Baker vs. Halladay This game starts off as a pitchers duel. Both pitchers working through the line ups with ease. Atlanta starts the scoring in the top of 5th, scoring 5 runs on 2 2-run hr's by Granderson and Lee, and an rbi 1b by Paulino. The Inmates add another run in the top of the 6th on a solo jack by Sheffield. Mannahawkin gets on the board in the bottom of the 6th on an rbi 1b by Thome. Mannahawkin would add 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th on a 2 rbi 1b by Carroll. Mannahawkin would finish up the scoring in the bottom of the 8th with a solo shot from Longoria. Final Score Atlanta 6 Mannahawkin 4. No injuries.

Atlanta: Halladay 9 W

Mannahawkin: Baker 9 L

Game 34 Blanton vs. Grienke Atlanta would start the scoring in the top of the 1st, scoring 2 runs on a 2-rbi 1b by Abreu snapping his 0 for 10 hitless streak. Atlanta would add 2 more runs in the top of the 4th on an rbi 2b by Paulino and a rbi 1b by Scutaro. Atlanta would add 3 more runs in the top of the 7th on a 2 run 2b by Sheffield and an rbi 3b by Johnson. Mannahawkin gets on the board in the bottom of the 7th with an rbi 1b by Carroll. Mannahawkin gets another run in the bottom of the 8th on a solo jack by Longoria. They finish up all scoring in the bottom of the 9th on arbi 1b by Aybar. Final Score Atlanta 8 Mannahawkin 3. No Injuries.

Atlanta: Grienke 9 W

Mannahawkin: Blanton 9L

Great time rolling with ya Stevo!!! Thanks for braving the potential flood and coming out to my house. Good luck the rest of the way.

ABL PITCHING STATUS: Chesapeake Bay Gallardo Rested Hammel Rest 1 game Zambrano Rest 2 games (Injured) Rodriguez Rest 3 games Bullpen: Adams must rest in game two if he pitches in game one Marmol ( one)

Tallahassee Sabathia Rested Marquis Rest 1 game Jackson Rest 2 games Duensing Rest 3 games Bullpen: Condrey must REST in game one Broxton (Suspended)

Las Vegas Haren Rest 2 games Johnson Rest 3 games Shields Rested Wolf Rest 1 game Bullpen: Okajima must rest in game two if he pitches in game one

Chicago Santana Rested Lee Rest 1 game Weaver Rest 2 games Bannister Rest 3 games Bullpen: Francisco must REST in game one Hendrickson must rest in game two if he pitches in game one

Orlando Verlander Rested Kershaw Rest 1 game Jurrjens Rest 2 games (Suspended) Kuroda Rest 3 games Bullpen: Kuo must rest in game two if he pitches in game one

Titusville Jimenez Rested Feldman Rest 1 game Garza Rest 2 games Lilly Rest 3 games Bullpen: Mathis must rest in game two if he pitches in game one Street pitched in one game

Atlanta Halladay Rest 2 games Greinke Rest 3 games Oswalt Rested (Injured) Bergesen Rest 1 game Bullpen: Rested

Long Beach Island Beckett Rested Nolasco Rest 1 game Cueto Rest 2 games Washburn Rest 3 games Bullpen: Bard must rest in game two if he pitches in game one

Syracuse Scherzer Rested Bailey Rest 1 game (Injured) Blackburn Rested Burnett Rested Bullpen: Rested

Barnegat Bay Vazquez Rested Wainwright Rest 1 game Lester Rest 2 games Lackey Rest 3 games Bullpen: Rested

Manahawkin Baker Rest 2 games Blanton Rest 3 games Carpenter Rested Pineiro Rest 1 game Bullpen: Rested

A LOOK AHEAD IN THE ABL: SERIES 1 SYRACUSE(1-5) AT LONG BEACH ISLAND(5-3) SITE: SKIBBY LIVE(DH)

HEAD TO HEAD: Long Beach Island leads 11-7

NOTES: The Hazard coming off a bye travel to face the Starfish in an American Division clash. Good news for the Hazard is all the pitchers are rested besides injured Homer Bailey. The Starfish will toss their 1-2 combo of Beckett and Nolasco. Skibby is hoping Beckett pitches more like an “ace” this time around. Last time out Beckett was smacked around by the National Division Perfectos. Out of the gate the Hazard haven’t done a lot right; a point that was discussed during the “March” edition of Commish Chat. One thing the Hazard should eventually do is hit the ball and score some runs for Coop’s club. The Starfish on the other hand are still getting use to their new digs in Citi field but have played some good ball clubs with some decent results. A split last week with first place B-Bay was a good series and the four game sweep to start the season vs. Atlanta were big time division wins for the fish. Roommates prepare to do battle in an American Division series with a possible mini-slam setup at Wendell St.

SERIES 2 MANAHAWKIN(3-3) AT BARNEGAT BAY(6-2) SITE: AMANDA LIVE(DH)

HEAD TO HEAD: Manahawkin leads 3-1

NOTES: In the possible other series at Wendell St. for a mini–slam the 2 nd year Pelicans travel to face the 3rd year and first place Corsairs. Have the 2 nd year Pelicans improved in 2010 was asked on Commish Chat? We’ll Manahawkin is 3-3 after six games and last year they started 1-7 before sweeping the Tallahassee Terriers in early April. Early on it looks like the improved pitching is making a difference as Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro picked up wins against the Inmates last play week. Plus the Pelicans have scored six more runs than they have allowed with an even 2-2 record in the division. Their foe in week four is a tough one in the ABL’s best Corsairs. B-Bay has had a start to remember with a 6-2 mark leading the entire field early on in 2010. Pitching has been the key with an ABL best 31 runs against for the teams that have played at least eight games. The Corsairs are the only team in 2010 to post two shutouts in 2010 as Jon Lester did the trick last play week against the rival Starfish. If you like pitching, this series has two dandy match ups as Carpenter will toss against Javy Vazquez in game one and Pineiro takes the ball against Wainwright in the nightcap. Three out of the four pitchers played MLB in St. Louis in 2009, maybe Lenny will try to sneak across the tracks and some game action through the knothole on Wendell St.

SERIES 3 ORLANDO(4-4) AT CHICAGO(4-4) SITE: ANT ROLLER

HEAD TO HEAD: Orlando leads 20-18

NOTES: The Sharks will invade Wrigley Field for the 39 th and 40 th meeting in franchise history. Looking at the head to head records above gives you an indication what type of games that have played over the years. Both clubs enter at .500 feeling they are both better than a .500 club. Orlando has scored 53 runs for the most in the ABL while getting some decent pitching too. Looking at those stats, you would think the Sharks would have a winning record. Chi-town’s stats actually look like a .500 club with 46 runs scored and 46 runs against. But when you look at their lineup and arms it seems this club could contend for a division championship in 2010. Another interesting twist is the Gangstas each season are getting better and better and using their bullpen effectively. Like many series in play week four another great pitching match up as Verlander will toss against Johan Santana in the opener. Both pitchers have pitched decent but both are looking to get on a roll and lead their respective teams. Johan has tossed two complete games both times out on the bump for the Gangstas. A battle of two old rivals with a history of providing very entertaining outcomes.

SERIES 4 TALLAHASSEE(3-5) AT TITUSVILLE(5-3) SITE: LENNY ROLLER

HEAD TO HEAD: Tallahassee leads 5-1

NOTES: The Terriers travel a few hours south to Titusville, FL to face the Perfectos for the first time in 2010. Historically the Terriers have dominated the Perfectos winning five out of the six previous meetings. This time around could be a bigger challenge for the Terriers since they are in rebuilding mode and the Perfectos look like a division contender in 2010. Tallahassee is a team built on speed and being scrappy on the base paths. Their pitching isn’t the best and will be a challenge when big C.C. is not on the hill. Bad new for T-Ville, C.C. will be on the bump for game one while Marquis takes the nightcap. The key early in the Perfectos season has been the power game. If Titusville smacks home runs, they seem to be pretty successful on the scoreboard. They have also showed some flair for the dramatic in 2010. Two walk off wins already on their resume early on in 2010 as Cuddyer went yard last play week to defeat the Vipers. On paper it would seem the Perfectos have the edge but looking at history, maybe the Legend has other things in his favor.

SERIES 5 LAS VEGAS(3-3) AT CHESAPEAKE BAY(5-3) SITE: COMMISH LIVE

HEAD TO HEAD: Chesapeake Bay leads 35-26

NOTES: The Vipers travel to the Yard to face the rival Channel Cats in another intra-division battle. The Vipers are coming off a split with Titusville much like the Cats did back in opening weekend. Las Vegas has played like a .500 club out of the box getting some good pitching but the offense hasn’t been as potent as last year’s club. The Dawg knew coming in to the 2010 season the offense might struggle a bit with some down years on a couple of players but having Pujols and Holliday in the middle of the lineup is a big help. C-Bay has had a strange season so far in 2010 in that their stats look a little better than their club. The offense is pretty good with 50 runs scored but the overall pitching numbers have been better than expected. The starters have not pitched well and at times quite horribly. But the bullpen has been a pleasant surprised as they again pitched well against Orlando in week three action. Yovanni Gallardo will take to the mound after allowing 11 runs last time out against luckily Las Vegas’s 3 rd pitcher in James Shields. Whenever these two teams hook up it seems the games are close and every player or pitcher is called upon to contribute in the series. Expect nothing less with a March Madness rumble at the Yard.

BYE: ATLANTA(3-7)

ABL TAXI TEAMS: Chesapeake Bay Hairston Millwood Reimold Harden Reyes

Tallahassee Nippert Cahill Francoeur Braden Guthrie

Las Vegas Anderson Drew Pence Slowey Webb

Chicago Pettitte Kazmir Bonifacio Stewart Ojeda

Orlando Dye Headley Cormier Janish Guerrero

Titusville Hamels Victorino Porcello Posada Niemann

Atlanta Loney Sanches Rasmus Hochevar Cabrera

Long Beach Island Bruce Billingsley Price DeJesus Maybin

Syracuse Kinsler Volstad Santana Stubbs Chamberlain

Barnegat Bay Belliard Wakefield Buchholz Maine Santos

Manahawkin Meche Saunders Navarro Valbuena Jones

Enjoy Week 4 Commish