Archive for the ‘gaming’ Category

Dynasty 100 Loss All Futility League Report: East Divisions

Posted: April 19, 2020 by datechguy in baseball, dynasty baseball, entertainment, fun, gaming, online gaming, Sable Baseball, Sports
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The latest of a weekly series on the teams in my Online (or in person) Dynasty baseball simulation leagues I run. If you have an interest in joining one leave a message in comments.

This week we visit the Dynasty All Pathetic 100 loss league consisting only of teams that lost 100 games in a season. We are in the home stretch here with about 40 games to go of a 154 game season.

AL East

1970 Chicago White Sox

With 38 games to go the Mariners are just one series away from tying. Can the White Sox continue to hold their lead with a few big bats and and the best pitching in the AL or will a suspect defense at the corners let them down?

Heroes: Bill Melton (29 HR 98 RBI ) and Ed Herrmann (30 HR 80 RBI) may be the 2nd best HR duo for a team but they have made the difference in game after game. Meanwhile on the mound Tommy John has been an innings horse 208 innings, 10 complete games and a respectable 3.72 ERA

Zeroes: Barry Moore has been much worse than his 5-5 record indicates, with a 5.69 ERA and a .296 batting avg against he’s kept many a door open. Meanwhile while Sid O’Brien has been acceptable at the bat when occasionally starting his .933 percentage at 2nd and .930 at 3rd has helped extend plenty of rallies but when it come to bad defense Walt Williams takes the cake with an .897 in left and a 917 in right.

Wild Cards: The best arms in the White Sox bullpen are looking tired as the season nears its end. That could spell disaster shortly.

Coming attractions: The Pale Hose finish a 4 city roadtrip with a pair against the 1st place 1982 Twins before a quick stop at home for a pair vs the 2003 Tigers before heading off to Baltimore for a 4 game series that will likely make or break the 2018 Orioles.

2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Tampa under it’s new manager has risen to within three games of Chicago and on occasion even closer. Can the timely hitting overcome an average pitching staff?

Heroes: No question who the heroes are on this team Aubrey Huff leads the league in batting (.358) Slugging .631 OB+Slugging (1.053) and Runs Batted in. and is top five in Runs, Hits and On Base Percentage. The only reason he’s not a lock for the MVP is teammate Randy Wynn who leads the league in Runs, Triples, Stolen bases 2nd in Avg, .(356) Hits (172) Doubles (37) and is top five in two others.

Zeroes: Estaban Yan may have 21 saves but he’s also blown 8 on the way accounting 4.11 ERA & 6-10 record, and of course a lot of runs don’t help a lot when you have starters Joe Kennedy (6-9 ERA 5.00 AVG .302) and Tanyon Sturtez (7-7 ERA 4.99 Avg .304) helping the other guys along.

Wild Cards: Almost half of their remaining games are against teams currently in or tied for 1st place in a division.

Coming Attractions: It’s two in Minnesota against the 1st place 1982 Twins before a 9 game home stand vs 2008 Mariners (4), 2018 Orioles (2) and the 2005 Royals (3).

2018 Baltimore Orioles

Despite losing their manager early in the season the Orioles still have an outside shot (a very outside shot). Can this ship without a rudder steer itself straight in the closing weeks of the campaign?

Heroes: Jonathan Villar has provided the triple crown numbers for the team (.325, 21HR 71 RBI) while leading the team in runs by more than 40 and stealing 37 bases. While reliever Mychal Givens has proved to be not only a workhorse but one of the best closers in the league with 23 saves with only 4 blown and a 6-2 record to go along with it.

Zeroes: Having a great closer doesn’t help if you can’t get to him and the O’s boast the worst pitching in the AL as David Hess (7.58 ERA 19 HR allowed .316 avg) Dylan Bundy (5.95 ERA 19 HR .305 allowed ) and Andrew Cashner (5.22 ERA .290 AVG 13 HR allowed) just haven’t done the job.

Wild Cards: What as bad as having the worst pitching in the league, having the lowest fielding percentage in the majors (.978)

Coming Attractions: after a pair vs the slugging 1973 Texas Rangers the O’s have 4 at home vs the 1970 White Sox and then start a road trip that begins in Tampa Bay with a pair against the 2002 Devil Rays. If they are to climb back into the race this will be their chance.

2003 Detroit Tigers:

The math still says that the Tigers have a shot but with pitching only slightly better than Baltimore and Hitting that is meh. It will take a real run of luck for these cats to roar into the playoffs.

Heroes: Dimirti Young has been at the top of his game all year with 26 HR 91 RBI a .341 abg and an OPS of .992 On a bad pitching staff Wil Ledezma has managed to put together a 6-3 record mostly from the bullpen with a few starts for good measure and Chris Spurling has thrown 106 innings all in relief with an era under 4 on a team whose ERA is over 5.

Zeroes: While Omar Infante (.205 0HR 25 RBI in 111 games is an obvious choice if you list the Tigers pitching by ERA their four primary starts are at the bottom with only Jeremy Bonderman with an ERA below six (5.45) but Nate Cornejo (9-11 6.14 ERA .343 avg) Gary Knotts (3-10 6.28 ERA 16 HR allowed) and Mike Maroth (6-16 6.75 ERA 24 HR allowed .327 Avg) have been the gifts that keep giving to opposing batters.

Wild Card: Whatever is to blame for Detroit’s problems it’s not the glovework as the Tigers are tied for the best fielding percentage in the league.

Coming Attractions: If Detroit is going to make a move the best time for them is now with a pair at Chicago followed by 4 at home vs the last place 2005 Kansas City Royals and then back on the road for the 1973 Texas Rangers.

National League East

2009 Washington Nationals

The Nationals have dominated the National League since almost the start beginning with a pair of 4 game win streaks to start and never looking back. The only question left is can they sustain this level of winning when the playoffs come around?

Heroes: Adam Dunn has been a monster a the plate with 36 HR and 105 RBI’s meanwhile Morgan Nyjer has not only hit .335 but has stolen 63 bases and scored 96 runs meanwhile John Lannan’s 13-5 record is driven by a .203 batting avg against and 2 k’s for every walk 114 vs 57 (despite 17 HR)

Zeroes: It’s hard to find zeros on a team that has only lost 37 games but while starter Livan Hernandez has given up just one less HR than Lannan he’s also allowed a .312 avg against and a 6.41 ERA on a team that has outscored their opponents by over 175 runs certainly qualifies. How good is this offense? Their “Zero” in the hitting column Elijah Dukes is hitting .235 with 13 HR 83 RBI and 24 doubles. Even their least productive overall hitter Wil Nieves whose .261 avg 1 HR & 39 RBI in 353 AB are not impressive is hitting .315 with runners in scoring position.

Wild Card: Since acquiring their new manager the Nationals who were already solidly in command have won 12 of their last 14.

Coming Attractions: The Nats welcome the NL West with series vs the 1st place 2012 Houston Astros (2) and the 1973 Padres (4) before heading off to a three city Road stand that will take them to Milwaukee, Florida and Pittsburgh.

1998 Florida Marlins

If you moved the Marlins to any other division in the league they would be leading by anywhere from 3 to 8 games instead they find themselves 10 games back with 38 to play. Can they recover?

Heroes: The Marlins have won with pitching (3.72 team ERA) and Starter Livan Hernandez (12-9 2.68 ERA .140 avg .228 avg against) has been the biggest part of an excellent staff, it helps when your closer Matt Mantei is 14 of 16 in save chances with a 9-3 record and workhourse reliever Vic Darensbourg with a 1.51 ERA in 101 1/3 innings and a 9-2 record in relief. Of course Cliff Floyd’s 18 HR and 92 RBI’s haven’t hurt either.

Zeroes: The only dark spot on the rotation has been Andy Larkin (0-7 in 15 starts with an era of 6.63 almost double the team avg. At the plate Derrek Lee has 14 HR but has only hit .201, .180 with runners in scoring position and managed an OBP of .288 while Gregg Zaun has managed only .212 with 4 HR and 44 RBI.

Wild Cards: If you’re going to beat the Marlins you had better do it in nine innings. They are a perfect 15-0 in extra inning games.

Coming Attractions: Florida finishes a home stand with 2 against the 1973 Padres and a pair against the 2002 Brewers before heading on the road to try and knock the 2012 Astros off their perch at the top of the NL West.

2010 Pittsburgh Pirates

After a horrible start the Pirates have somehow managed to make it back to .500. With only 38 games to go can they rally to make a respectable finish?

Heroes: Brian Giles (.327 20 HR 72 RBI) numbers are nothing to sneeze at but for pure power i’s been Aramis Ramierz with 30 HR (2nd in NL) and 117 RBI (1st) that has really done the job

Zeroes: While the injury bug has not been kind to Bronson Arroyo it’s not a good excuse for an ERA 2 full runs over the team avg and a .310 avg .062 above the rest of the staff. Jack Wilson has been a disappointment with a .221 3 28 triple crown line and an OBP under .300 (.291)

Wildcard: The Pirates have been incredibly average everywhere with identical 29-29 records at home and on the road, but have blown 22 out of 56 save chances.

Coming Attractions: Pittsburgh’s quest to go beyond avg continues with a pair vs 2004 Arizona and then 4 at 2002 Milwaukee before they come home for a nine game set that begins with the 1967 Mets

1967 New York Mets

In a league of 100 loss teams the 1967 Mets have been a loser among losers as with 38 games to go they are a single loss away from being mathematically eliminated. Dare I say Amazing?

Heroes: No question who the hero is on this team Tom Seaver is 15-8 with an ERA of 3.36 and 167 K’s vs only 58 walks he’s also pitched 8 complete games which is seven more than the rest of the rotation combined. Despite playing in 103 games Bob Johnson has only managed 167 at bats but in those limited at bats he’s hit .365 with an OPS of .880

Zeroes: At the plate Jerry Grote has been the lowest of the low lights for the gothamites (.170 1 HR 26 RBI in 317 AB) on the mound despite Jack Fisher’s 2-16 record the biggest villains in the rotation are Don Cardwell (4-12 3.16 avg 5.58 ERA) and Dennis Bennett (4-10 6.26 ERA 19 HR in 100 2/3 innings)

Wild Cards: Polhittingly Correct The Mets bats are careful not to offend anyone. They are not only the last in the league in HR, but last in Runs, Doubles RBI’s OBP Slugging and OPS

Coming Attractions: the 1974 SanDiego Padres get the honor of trying to officially eliminate the Mets at their home but if they fail to do so, the 2004 Arizona Diamondback get four chances to do it in Shea before they head off to Houston to face the 2012 Astros.

Computer games for Quarantine

Posted: April 12, 2020 by datechguy in gaming, online gaming
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We talked about a few board games for people to jump into during quarantine, now lets talk about a few computer games worth your time. I’m not including current classics like the Civilization series or Talisman or any of the 1st party shooters, I’m talking games that are long in the tooth but still a lot of fun. You can find all of these game either at Steam or at Myabandonware.com Play them on the site or download DosBox and play them on your current system. Most you can play for free but some are still popular enough that they’ll cost you a few dollars, but they’re all worth it.

Sid Meiers Pirates or Pirates Gold

These were the original Sin Meier’s winners. that you’ve likely forgotten.

Even before the days of Civilization Sid Meier had a winner with Pirates. Long before the days of the Disney movie series you were able to grab a ship and as either a Dutchman, Frenchman, Spaniard or Englishman sail the Caribbean capturing ships, raiding town and enjoying drunken nights with a barmaid. While the graphics are not the 3D of the current versions the gameplay is similar although you don’t do any dancing and can choose to marry the merchant’s daughter if the governor’s doesn’t appeal to you. Expect plenty of action and swordplay.

Sid Meiers Colonization

Back in the early 90’s I spent a ton of time on this game where as with the same nationalities as Pirates you can settle the New world and build your colonies. Each nation has advantages and disadvantages as they deal with the natives of different tribes with different reactions, build up their colonies as thriving centers of trade and managing relations with other nations while working toward independence. It’s a tough balancing act to pick the right time with public opinion on your side but don’t wait too long because your king’s expeditionary forces will grow over time.

1830:

There are a lot of great Classic Avalon Hill games that are out there from 3rd Reich to Wooden Ships and Iron men that were converted to the PC but of the batch 1830 is the most playable online. You play 1-5 opponents trying to build a railroad empire from the premiere of the steam engine to the development of the great diesel engines of the early 20th century. Build your lines and lay your tracks but be aware that your opponents will be doing the same and placing stations to aid their runs and block yours, or ignore railroad building and become a stock manipulator and win via picking the right winners. Be aware they’re cutthroat.

Avalon Hill Civilization:

Before Sid Meier created what is considered one of the greatest computer games lines ever made Avalon Hill’s Civilization was the gold standard of games. Begin in the stone age and get to the Development of Democracy. The balance was to limit to the number of cities and pieces and the trade system could lead to trouble. As a board game it ran 8-12 hours to play and you had to set a day aside for the group of six or more but as a PC game you could stop and go allowing you to finish. Still a fine game

Avalon Hill History of the Word.

Another great board game that translated even better to the PC. Over seven Epochs you control a different empire with different strengths and locations can you maximize your advantages and score when you have the chance with a Rome, or an England or the Arabs at their rise to make up for your smaller groups scoring what they can in their fleeting time on earth?

Spectacular game

Age of Rifles: SSI

A spectacular wargame where on the brigade level or below you can re=fight battles before the age of armor and the airplane from colonial battles to the Russian Chinese War. Can you out Napoleon Napoleon out Fredrick Fredrick or stop the Zulus charge or as Custer survive his last stand?

Red Baron

It’s 1914 or 1917 and you are a new pilot flying for the French or British or Germans or Americans over the western front. Fly single missions or in a group, escort bombers go after balloons or dogfight with modern instruments or with real ones if you think you can handle it.

How good is this game. The original is a 30 year old dos game and the sequel for windows was for Windows 98 yet it will still cost you a few dollars to play.

Machiavelli the Prince

One of my favorite and better than the updated Merchant Prince It’s 1400 Venice your uncle Nicolo has died and left you a small annual pension and a map of the world. Can you parlay that along with a ship or two into a trade empire that travels the world while gaining power within the counsel halls of Venice and in the Church which hold so much power. Trade, travel, hire Guards and even mercenaries. Get appointed to a job by the Doge or maybe even get a member of your faction to the top seat. Get rich off on indulgences as you buy the influences of Cardinals but watch out for plagues, storms bandits, pirates and your fellow players who aren’t above using slander, arson, or even murder to stop your plans, in fact you might find yourself having to do the same.

Dynasty Players Choice League AL / NL Div C Report

Posted: April 11, 2020 by datechguy in baseball, dynasty baseball, gaming, online gaming, Sable Baseball, Sports
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The Latest of our reports from my Dynasty Players Choice league by division. Next week we’ll bring you updates from our all futility league but for now. Division C in the Players Choice League:

AL Division C

2015 Kansas City Royals

After a slow start the Royals not only have 1st place in the AL Division C but the best record in the American league. Can their one run heroics (7-3) in one run games continue to keep them on top?

Heroes: It’s hard to pick one hero on this team but but Kendrys Morales is a great candidate. with his team leading .315 avg. 15 RBI while hitting .364 with runners in scoring position. On the Mound Johnny Cueto is 4-0 with a team leading 43 2/3 innings 2 complete games and a WHIP of only 1.17. While Wade Davis is 4-4 in save chances twice as many k’s as BB and has yet to give up an earned run.

Zeroes: Salvador Perez is a reluctant choice for a zero. His .214 avg is last on the team and 17K’s in 84 AB is a lot but he’s driven in 9 runs (.333 with 2 outs & RISP) and has caught 2 of 7 who have tried to steal off him. However there is no doubt about Starters Danny Duffy (1-3) .398 avg against 8.35 ERA and Jeremy Guthrie (0-2 .410 avg against 12.00 ERA) their seven starts are the reason this team is not a lot farther ahead.

Wildcard: Ben Zobrist was hitting .455 with runners in scoring position and .333 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position with 5 HR in only 13 games before going on the DL. Now that he’s back a team expect the teams -2 Run differential to change dramatically, particularly against opponents with a combined 28-33 record.

Coming attractions: A quick 3 game homestand vs the 2009 Yankees is followed by a six game road trip to opposite ends of the Country against the 1988 A’s in Oakland and then the 2013 Redsox in Boston.

1924 Washington Senators

A just over .500 record might be good enough and even stats might be a big improvement over last seasons epic 4-21 finish to the season but if they expect to do better than fighting for the last playoff spot they will have to surge.

Heroes: Roger Peckinpaugh’s 3 HR is more than all he hit last year. Combine that with a dozen RBI, a dozen walks and the team lead in runs despite batting 6-9th and he’s looking good. Tommy Taylor might be a part time player but he’s hitting .297 and shares the league lead in triples with teammate Sam Rice with 4. On the Mound George Mogridge is 4th League ERA (2.38) 2nd in wins (4) 3rd in avg against (.216) and is the reason why the Senators are only 1 1/2 out.

Zeroes: Curly Ogden has been nothing short of disaster both as a starter and a reliever 0-3 8.27 ERA Seven walks and 4 HR allowed vs only one strikeout. Bucky Harris has scored 13 runs but is batting only .234 with a .237 slugging percentage and with .077 avg when leading off isn’t getting the table set. Not that it would matter for Joe Judge whose slump which started at the end of last season keeping him from 100 RBI’s continues. He has only 5 RBI a .237 avg and an anemic .111 avg with runners in scoring position and is hitless with runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

Wild Card: Walter Johnson has been a workhorse 3rd in inning pitched in the league holding batters to a .217 avg (4th) & a WHIP of 1.18 (6th) in the lead while hitting .364 with 1 HR and 4 RBI’s off the bench but only has a only a 3-3 record thanks to a 3.61 ERA and six homers. Will he settle down or will the use of him on 3 days rest mean an average Johnson.

Coming Attractions: The Senators finish a home stand vs the 2009 Yankees, Fly off to Oakland to face the 1998 A’s for a series before beginning a long 21 game homestand staring against the 2013 Redsox.

2009 New York Yankees

After losing six of their first 8 the Bronx Bombers are only a game under five hundred winning six of their last 8. Are they poised to make their move or are the roadblocks ahead too big?

Heroes: Derek Jeter’s .337 avg coupled with his team lead in hits high RBI & runs scored totals coupled with error less play at short are huge although perhaps not as huge as Mark Teixeira’s league lead in HR and 8th spot in the RBI race. Meanwhile on a Pitching staff that has been avg or worse reliever Alfredo Aceves WHIP of 1.09 and 2.87 ERA is a breath of fresh air.

Zeroes: Mariano Rivera‘s four blown saves vs 3 saves and ERA over 5 (5.52) is a big reason why the Yanks are under .500 but with AM Burnett (2-2 6.39 ERA .310 avg against) Andy Pettitte (0-3 6.67 ERA .339 avg against) and Joba Chamberlain (0-2 7.45 ERA .316 avg against) putting up these kind of numbers over 13 starts it’s a wonder there they are only a game under .500. of course Jorge Posada .130 avg and single HR coupled with 6 bases stolen against and two errors doesn’t help much either.

Wildcards: The Yanks are 7-5 in games outside the division but with an unbalanced schedule that can be fatal, however they are a perfect 2-0 in extras.

Coming Attractions: The Yanks get a chance to climb back in the race with a 12 game road trip that starts with a pair of division rivals ahead of them as it takes them to Washington to face the 1924 Senators and the 1st place 2015 Royals before heading off to Chicago to face the 2005 White Sox and Toronto for the 1993 BlueJays

2002 Anaheim Angles

The Angels are one of two teams still without a full time manager and it shows. With both the worst record in the league and the worst run differential is it a lost season or can the Halos turn it around.

Heroes: David Eckstein’s .327 avg and .412 OB is a big reason why he leads the teams in runs and a .333 avg with runners on isn’t bad either (although those five errors haven’t helped) much. On the pitching side Brendan Donnelly has been spectacular in relief with a 3-0 record and a WHIP of 0.91 in 6 games has been one of the few reasons to cheer.

Zeroes: Oh the Agony of choice on this team for this dishonor but let’s begin with starters Kevin Appier (1-4 8.77 ERA .342 avg against ) and Jon Lackey ( 0-1 8.71 ERA only 10 1/3 innings in 3 starts) who haven’t done the job on the mound, while Ben Molina’s 3 errors behind the plate while batting .171 at it have been disastrous.

Wild Card: The lack of a full time manager makes things harder but not as hard as Left handed pitching. The team is 1-9 against southpaws.

Coming Attractions: A 9 game road trip might just be the thing to get their minds off their troubles. They’ll start in Chicago to face the 2004 White Sox head north to Detroit for the 1968 Tigers and then to Cleveland against the defending AL champs the 1954 Indians.

NL Div C

2016 Chicago Cubs

With a team Tied for the 2nd best record in the league and in first place it would seem like smooth sailing for the Cubs however when despite all this you share 1st with another team it looks like this season is going to be a fight from 1st to last.

Heroes: On a Team that’s only batting .232 Dexter Fowler’s .311 avg 2 HR 11 RBI and four triples (2nd in the league) stands out. But with a team ERA of .263 there are a bunch of candidates, so we’ll name John Lackey (3-0 .182 avg 1.98 ERA) and Jon Lester (2-0 2.10 ERA and 31 K vs 11 walks to start) with Aroldis Chapman (1-0 2 sv 22k vs 3 BB and no runs allowed in 11 1/3 ) leads the way.

Zeroes: the only dark spot in the rotation has been Kyle Hendricks with a 4.15 ERA and a 2-3 Record and a fielding percentage of .667. Javier Baez .191 avg and .242 OB is the worst of a bad lot

Wild Cards Despite the 2nd best record in the league the Cubs OBS of .666 is the 2nd worst. Jake Arrieta has been the teams hard luck loser at 1-4 with a 2.06 ERA but he’s had even harder luck in his two away starts with an 0-2 record despite a 1.72 ERA and 21k vs 5 walks.

Coming Attractions: the Cubs put their incredible ERA to the test in Cincinnati against the 1975 Big Red Machine before coming home to face power hitting 2019 Nationals and then Hank Aaron’s 1957 Braves.

1962 San Francisco Giants

The defending division champs want another chance that the Pennant but despite the 2nd best record in game those pesky Cubs won’t give in and Philly is even in the loss column. Can they make some distance.

Heroes: Willie McCovey has been pounding the ball with a .397 avg 7 HR and 22 RBI’s and Felipe Alou at .375 6 HR and 24 RBI is right behind. While on the mound Juan Marichal (3-1 1.93 ERA in six starts) leads the way.

Zeroes: Don Larson two blown saves in two chances are no accident with hitters batting .320 vs him and and a 9.00 ERA. While Bobby Bolin’s ERA is a full run better (7.85) five HR in 18.1 innings means trouble but so does Jose Pagan .170 avg with but a single dinger

Wild Cards: The Giants have feasted on right handers with a 12-5 record and have really shined in day games at 6-2.

Coming Attractions: It’s a nasty road Trip for the Giants: with three in Philly vs the 2008 Phillies followed by a trip to Brooklyn for the 1955 Dodgers and before finishing back in their old stomping ground of New York against the 1986 Mets.

2008 Philadelphia Phillies

Sitting even in the loss column with both the Giants and Cubs The Phillies just on burst away from heading right to the top.

Heroes: Shane Victorino has been an RBI machine driving in 19 with a .326 avg while also scoring a team leading 14. Closer Brad Lidge has been the warrior with 6 saves in 7 chances, a 1.35 ERA and 17k’s in 13 1/3 innings over 13 games. In 19 games Geoff Jenkins is hitting .418 with 2 homers and 12 RBI’s

Zeroes: Kyle Kendrick only managed 14.2 innings in four starts with a 10.43 ERA and 11 walks vs 5 k’s. Rudy Seanez ERA is almost 5 runs better at 5.82 but he’s 0-3 with a blown save in 13 games of unimpressive relief.

Wild Cards: Ryan Howard is only hitting .152 but with 12 hits but with those 12 hits he’s managed 5 HR and 9 RBI while scoring 13 runs.

Coming Attractions: It’s 3 on the road with the 2005 Astros before heading home with a shot at the 1962 San Francisco Giants before heading on the road again first to face the 1975 Cincinnati Reds and the 2019 Washington Nationals.

2005 Houston Astros

A 9-12 start isn’t a disaster this early in the season but with the three teams ahead all in single digits for losses there are a lot of people to pass to get back in this race.

Heroes: Orlando Palmeiro is hitting .362 over 18 games while Morgan Ensberg has managed five homers and 14 RBI’s and an .885 OPS to lead the team in all three categories. Willy Travers 24 hits leads the team and he has 9 SB to go along with it. Roger Clemens has an 1.88 ERA with three complete games and three wins in six starts.

Zeroes: Andy Pettitte’s 4.66 ERA doesn’t sound bad but on a team with an ERA of 3.03 it’s been good for a 0-4 record thanks to six HR allowed, a full half the amount of the entire staff. Meanwhile Brad Lidge has been the opposite of his Philadelphia twin blowing 2 of 3 save chances with a team worst 4.82 ERA. Brad Ausmus .164 avg is the worst on a bad team of those who qualify.

Wild Cards: The good news is the Astros are holding their opponents to a .219 avg with only 9 HR over 21 games. The bad news is they’re only batting .215 with 9 HR themselves.

Coming Attractions: It’s three games at home vs the 2008 Phillies then it’s on the road to NYC 1st to Brooklyn vs the 1955 Dodgers, and then to Shea for the 1998 Mets then it’s south to Florida for 3 vs the 1997 Marlins

Quarantine Board Game Suggestions (Besides Dynasty Baseball)

Posted: April 7, 2020 by datechguy in fun, gaming

When functioning in the real world letting yourself get hooked on games can be considered a bad thing but when stuck in quarantine a game that can eat up time is worth its weight in gold. Now if you are a twenty something you likely don’t need a list like this, but if your fifty something and never owned a comic store in your twenty that sold board games or old Dos games it will come in handy. Here are a few suggestions some are current, most of which you’ve likely never heard of but are available for purchase on eBay. Today we do board games.

Family Business:

The Family business card game is quick and simple. You are the head of a 1920’s mob family and the object of your game is to eliminate everyone else to become the capo di tutti capi. This is done via hits, putting the finger on others etc, but watch out as the other mobs will be quick to go after you as well and might have cards ready to counter. for 3-5.

Settlers of Catan:

Simple popular game where you develop your civilization by using resource cards and getting points for doing so. Quick paced and with a million expansions it makes a great party game or is sutable for a small group.

Groo the Cardgame:

If the Groo comic series is a good one to read while in quarantine. Groo the card game is even better if you have a group of three or more locked together. The game faithfully follows the comic in the sense that you are the mayor of a town and your goal is to make Groo so somewhere else as he keeps accidentally destroying buildings, ships and killing your soldiers in frays. Get seven point of buildings up (or 10 in the long version) and keep them up by the end of a turn and you win, but with Groo nearby, it not easy at all.

Squad Leader/Panzer Leader family/upfront

If there are two of you the classic Squad Leader/Panzer leader games or the Advanced Squad Leader system will hook you bad. With the board and terrain systems you can literally re-create almost any small scale world war 2 encounter of different nationalities in any theater. This is one of the most complex and realistic game systems ever invented so be warned. If you want a less complex version the Upfront card game does the trick. The morale based system really makes the games come alive but if you’ve never played an Avalon Hill game it will take some getting used to.

Broadside:

This one you’ll definitely have to get on Ebay as it has been out of print from Milton Bradley for 40 years. For two players one commands a powerful 10 ship British fleet the other a less powerful American fleet during the War of 1812 but supported by shore guns and underwater rocks that can tear a ship open whose placement you know but the British don’t. The object of the Brits is to enter the harbor and sink a fleet of docked merchant ships, you need to sink the british fleet before they do. Defense vs Offense, a great strategy game for two.

Memoir 44 / Battle Cry (modern)

Sort of a poor man’s Squad Leader for those who aren’t into too much complexity, using terrain hexes you can recreate different world war two battles or in the case of battle cry, civil war battles. A lot less complex and cool miniatures are the advantages over squad leader and you’re not likely to get hooked spending thousands on expansions. Because of the divided game board it can be played with 2-6 rather than just head to head. WARNING do NOT confuse this modern version of Battle Cry with the Milton Bradley version that came out at the time of Broadside which is undoubtedly one of the worst board games every invented.

Solo Games

Of course if your stuck in quarantine, you are likely stuck alone here are a few excellent solo games of different complexity from the old Avalon Hill company

London’s Burning:

You are the the RAF in charge of the few and as the game runs the Lufwaffre sending waves of Bombers over England. Can you direct your meager supply of Spitfires and Hurricanes and even more meager supply of trained pilots to keep your cities airfields and radar stations safe or will the Nazi blitz be too much for you. Can be played two player.

Blackbeard: You are a pirate cruising the Caribbean , the gold cost and/ or Madagascar capturing ships, ransoming hostages and raiding towns. But you need to keep your ship/fleet in repair because kings commissioners with powerful warships are after you and the towns and ships are armed and ready for you, and of course you never know if you might find yourself in a duel. In the multi-player version you look to survive and retire with the most gold or the biggest reputation, but in the solo game you are Captain Blood with more skill than all the others and a odd resemblance to Errol Flynn and need to gain a high enough reputation score to win. Sorry Johnny Depp fans , this game predates all those movies so he’s not there.

Patton’s Best:

This is for the ASL Crowd. You are a tank commander who has survived Normandy , now you have to go day by day through the grind of battle. The system provides targets and opponents and you have to make the right decisions at the right time because if you don’t you’ll find an 88 ending your game in a hurry. Replace wounded crew members replenish your ammo and survive to be promoted, but be careful there because you never know if there is a hidden machine gun next or an enemy tank just over the next rise. This is a complex game for someone who wants to kill a lot of time.

Of course in an age of computer games and phones you might want something that will play on a PC That post will come later this week and will include a few games that are also available as board games.

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