An MLB Collaborative TL: Piece of Cake: The Cubs win Game 6 in '03

[Looper]

October 6, 2004: The MLB Playoffs officially begin with the Division Series games, with todays matchups being the Marlins in Chicago against the Cubs, and the Angels hosting the Red Sox. We’ll begin in Chicago, where the Cubs are hoping to again beat the Marlins under the Wrigley lights, just as they did last season. The game begins well for the Cubs, as they see Aramis Ramirez drive in both Mark Grudzielanek and Moises Alou with a two-out triple, before he himself is driven in via a Michael Barrett bloop single, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead after the first inning. The Cubs ride a dominant Kerry Wood performance through seven innings, as a flame throwing righty strikes out 11 Marlins hitters. In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs extend their lead, with Miguel Tejada crushing a Ben Howard fastball high into the Chicago night for a three run homer, doubling the Chicago lead from three to six. Despite a Jeff Conine solo home run off Glendon Rusch in the top of the ninth, no more damage would come, and the Cubs would win game 1 of the series 6-1 over the Marlins.

The second game would be out on the west coast, with the Angels facing off with the Boston Red Sox. This game would see an offensive explosion, as, after Pedro Martinez and John Lackey each throw 1-2-3 innings, the Boston offense explodes for eight runs in the second inning, with four of them coming on a Pokey Reese grand slam. Eight runs would be well enough for Pedro Martinez, and despite a bit of a rough fourth inning, where he surrendered three runs, he would keep the game out of reach, while the Red Sox added two insurance runs in the fifth, and another in the seventh, and the game ends 11-3, as the reigning World Champions take game 1 on the road.

 

[WB18]

October 7, 2004: We have four division series games on tap today and tonight. Starting off in New York, where the hometown Yankees host the Chicago White Sox in game one of their best of 5. On just the third pitch of the game, Juan Uribe goes yard off Mike Mussina to make it 1-0 for the Southsiders. A batter later, Magglio Ordonez would hit a double into the left field gap and would score on Alex Rodriguez's single a batter later to make it 2-0 ChiSox. In the top of the fourth, the White Sox offensive onslaught continues, with Paul Konerko hitting a three run home run off Mussina to make it 5-0 in favor of the White Sox. Tradeline addition Randy Johnson would pitch 6 solid innings with 10 strikeouts and just 3 walks and 3 hits for the White Sox as the Yankees would get a run in the eighth on a Derek Jeter RBI single to score Bernie Williams but that would be it as Chicago wins game 1 5-1 at Yankee Stadium.

Meanwhile, the other Chicago team, the Cubs face the Marlins in game two of their NLDS showdown. Unlike the previous night, this game would be a nail-biter as Mark Prior and Brad Penny would have a pitchers duel, with Prior striking out 12 Marlins, walking 5 and allowing 3 hits and no runs through 7 while his counterpart in Penny would strike out 11, walk 5 and allow just 2 hits with no runs against a powerful Cub lineup through 7. After no runs in the 8th, in the top of the ninth, a run would finally come thanks to the Marlins Mike Lowell, who's two out double would score Juan Pierre from third to put the Marlins up 1-0. That would be it, as Ugeuth Urbina came in to shut the down in the bottom half to tie the series at a game apiece.

(Author's note: I'll get to game two of Red Sox-Angels and game one of Cardinals-Giants later, I'm actually pretty busy as of the time of posting this)

 

[KingSweden24]

Go Cubs!

 

[ILPD45]

Will we have an all-Chicago World Series?

 

[WB18]

October 7, 2004: The second NLDS series between the Cardinals and Giants kicks off from Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Quickly, the hometown Giants would fall behind early, as Mike Matheny hit a three-run home run off Jason Schmidt to make 3-0 St. Louis in the second. The Giants would answer, with Edgardo Alfonso driving in J.T. Snow for the Giants first run in the bottom of the third. In the fifth, Barry Bonds would homer to put the Giants within one. However, the Cardinals would blow the game open in the top o the seventh, scoring 6 runs, highlighted by a three-run shot from Albert Pujols that went into the water in right. St. Louis steals home-field advantage with a 9-2 win in Game 1.

Meanwhile, in Anaheim, the Red Sox picked up right where they left off in game 2, as back-to-back doubles on the first two pitches of the game put Boston up 1-0. But Angels starter Bartolo Colon would start to settle down after that, retiring the next 3 Red Sox batters. The Angels, for their part, couldn't do much of Bronson Arroyo, despite getting 7 hits through the first 5 innings (including leaving the bases loaded in the third). In the bottom of the sixth, however, the Angels would get a break, as Darin Erstad was hit, stole second, advanced to third on a groudout, and scored on a wild pitch from Arroyo to tie the game. The 1-1 deadlock would stay that way through 9 as we headed to extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Boston loaded the bases with nobody out, but Francisco Rodriguez struck out Jason Varitek, struck out David Ortiz, and Adrian Beltre popped out to end the inning with no damage. In the bottom of the inning, with Mike Timlin pitching, Tim Salmon singled, Benjie Molina struck out, then Scott Spiezio came to the plate and on a 3-2 pitch drew a walk that should have been strike 3. Then Jeff Bagwell came to the plate and on a 0-1 pitch, this happened.

"The 0-1 to Bagwell, the pitch is swung on and into Center Field and DROPS! Here comes Salmon to the plate, and he is SAFE! Angels win it, and they have tied the series at a game apiece heading to Boston!"
-Josh Lewin calling Tim Salmon's game winning RBI

 

[NyQuil]

October 9th 2004:
Game 2 of Yankees White Sox ALDS sees Roger Clemens vs Mark Burehle

Clemens in what could be his final game pitched either as a Yankee or in his career gets 7 solid innings with 8 strikeouts and only 1 run given up a RBI Double by Frank Thomas while Buehrle gives up 3 runs in 6 innings including a RBI single by Kenny Lofton and Aaron Boone plus a sac fly by Derek Jeter

However in the top of the 9th the magic of Alex Rodriguez would come out as runners on 1st and 2nd Alex Rodriguez would do this
“MLB on ESPN call by Jon Miller”

Miller: Rivera in a 1-2 count with 1 out with runners on 1st and 2nd here’s his windup and the delivery Rodriguez swings and it’s high and deep going to the warning track and it’s……..GONE A 3 RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ AND THE WHITE SOX NOW LEAD 4-3!

In the bottom of the 9th Shingo Takatsu would easily save the game for the White Sox giving them now a 2-0 lead in the series and a change to finish the sweep at home in the south side of Chicago

In the Cubs Marlins game 3 as the series moves to Miami with Greg Maddux pitching for the Marlins against Tim Hudson and the Cubs the Marlins would give something for the fans to cheer for.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning rising star Left Fielder Miguel Cabrera would blast one into the left field bleacher to put the Marlins 1-0

In the 4th Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez would make the game 2-0 Marlins on a RBI double driving home Derrek Lee


The final score of the game would come on another solo home run by Luis Castillo out of all players to make the game 3-0

After 8 scoreless innings Greg Maddux would be pulled after a Shawn Green RBI double of his own for the Cubs but the reliable closer arrived by Florida in the trade deadline Eric Gagne gets his 2nd straight postseason save as the Marlins win 3-1 as they too have a chance to win the series at home in Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead

 

[Nivek]

Alex Rodriguez would do this

Ironic,he was on the Yankees otl yet collapse on alcs, here he might be chisox hero

 

[NyQuil]

October 10th 2004: The ALDS goes to the south side of Chicago between the Yankees and the White Sox for game 3

In a pitchers duel between Andy Pettite and Jon Garland which combines to 7 scoreless innings and nearly 20 combine strikeouts .

However in the 8th inning it would be 1st baseman Jason Giambi that would break a tie with a 2 run home run that barely went into center putting the Yankees on top 2-0

And with that Rivera came on to save the game and preventing the Yankees from getting sweepeed by White Sox

October 10th 2004: In Miami for Game 4 of the Cubs Marlins NLDS the Chicago Cubs would get on the board fast as Shawn Green would blast a solo home run into the right field bleachers only 3 batters into the game.

In the 3rd innings Aramis Ramirez would connect and bring 2 run RBI double to make it 3-0 Cubs already.

However in the 4th inning Mike Lowell would drive in a RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.

The Cubs though would answer back as Sammy Sosa would hit a solo home run of his own to put it 4-1 Cubs

It seemed like the series would settle for a all or nothing game 5 in Chicago until the bottom of the 9th when another heartbreaking story in the history of Cubs would happen.

Kyle Farnsworth in relief after owould walk Jeff Conine and then Miguel Cabrera would reach base on a single.


Then Juan Pierre would step and on a 2-2 count would hit a liner towards right in the corner of Sammy Sosa it what could have been a easy out for the Cubs turns out to be one of the biggest blunders in postseason history as Sosa would trip trying to catch the ball which causes 2 runs to score on a RBI single for to make it 3-4

Luis Castillo would single the next batter

And then the next batter Derrek Lee would do this
“Call from Joe Buck on FOX”
“0-2 count Pierre on second Marlins holding onto life here while the Cubs are close to forcing a game 5 at home. The windup and pitch to Lee. It’s a high one going towards left fielder Shawn Green is tracking back thinking he has it. It’s heading towards the warning track and the fence and it is OFF THE FENCE!! PIERRE TO HOME ON A RBI DOUBLE ITS A TIE GAME AT 4!

Mike Lowell would fly out for the 1st out but Castillo would go up to 3rd.

And then rookie pitch hitter Matt Treanor on a 1-2 count would hit a pop up for a fly out however Castillo would take his changes to score the series winning run and this is what happened.
“Joe Buck on Fox call”

“Treanor is gonna fly out for out number 2 but wait a minute Castillo is gonna try to win the game here! A deep long from from Patterson to catcher Michael Barrett and it’s…… LANDS OVER HIS HEAD CASTILLO SCORES AND THE MARLINS TAKE GAME 4 AND THE SERIES ON A WALK OFF SACRIFICE FLY!!

The Marlins would get payback from last years NLCS in front of their home crowd and would be the first team to punch their ticket to the LCS to face either the Cardinals or Giants.

 

[Nivek]

Cubs got eliminated , well the all Chi town WS might have to wait

 

[Looper]

Cubs got eliminated , well the all Chi town WS might have to wait

Would have been pretty unlikely, both NL playoffs in this TL are very deep.

 

[Looper]

October 12, 2004: Two former Syracuse ball boys accuse Syracuse basketball assistant Bernie Fine of molesting them years prior. Following the allegations, Syracuse announces they will be suspending Fine.

 

[NyQuil]

October 11th 2004: In ALDS Game 4 between the Yankees and White Sox in a pitching matchup between José Contreras vs Javier Vázquez it would be a game for the White Sox to forget.

Sandy Alomar would get a home run in the 2nd inning to put the White Sox up 1-0 but they would pretty much be it for the White Sox.

It would start in the 4th when Derek Jeter would hit a 2 home run to put the Yankees on top 2-1 and then a Bernie Williams RBI single that would make it 3-1 Yankees

In the 6th inning Jason Giambi would get a RBI double to make it 4-1 and then in the 7th inning Bernie Williams would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1 Yankees and that would be the final game as the series would be tied 2-2.

This hard fought game would be going to a deciding game 5.

October 13th 2004: In Game 5 of the ALDS the White Sox are back at home as it’s Mike Mussina taking on Randy Johnson.

Right away in the 1st inning we would see Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the 1st hit a solo home run his 4th of the series to put the White Sox up 1-0

The Yankees would respond with a RBI single by Kenny Lofton to tie the game 1-1 in the 2nd inning but that would be short lived as next in the 3rd inning catcher for the White Sox Sandy Alomar would hit a RBI single of his own to put the White Sox up 2-1.

In the 5th inning the White Sox would open the gates as Frank Thomas would hit a 2 run home up to put the White Sox up 4-1

The Yankees would be able to make it 4-3 in the 7th as Kenny Lofton would bring in 2 runs on a RBI double of his own however it was not enough as in the bottom of the 9th as reliever Shingo Takatsu would close the game and the series at home as for the first time since 1959 the Chicago White Sox would be moving onto the ALCS to play either the Angels or Red Sox.

 

[Nivek]

1959 the Chicago White Sox

Well them,go chisox

 

[NyQuil]

Well them,go chisox

Funny enough the 1959 White Sox were called the “Go Go” Sox

 

[NyQuil]

October 9th 2004: In Week 6 of the 2004 college football season the biggest game of the week is number 3 Oklahoma vs Number 2 Texas

In a game that lived up to the name “Red Rivalry Shootout” the Sooners and Longhorns throw for a combine near 400 yards and near 200 yards in rushing.

Jason White and Vince Young would throw for 3 touchdowns each and Adrian Peterson plus Cedric Benson would rush for 2 touchdowns each as the game would be tied at 38-38 going into overtime.

In overtime the Longhorns would get the ball first as Vince Young would run for a touchdown on 3rd and 6 at the Sooners 15 yard life to make it 45-38 after the extra point then the next drive Oklahoma Jason White would find a man in the end zone for a touchdown and a extra point would tie the game at 45-45.

However in the first possession of Overtime 2 Vince Young would make a mistake as he would be picked off on the 2nd play of the drive.

That would lead to Oklahoma walking off the game on a 30 yard field goal to win 48-45 as the Sooners make a strong case for them to jump up not just to 2 but straight up to number 1 in the polls.

Also in the world of college football the number 1 ranked USC Trojans would survive a wild ride in Berkeley against the 9th ranked Cailforina Golden Bears as we saw 2 more of the best college football quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Aaron Rodgers go at it as they would combine for 3 touchdowns of their own along with 2 touchdowns by sophomore sensation running back Reggie Bush someone who has a real chance to break the steak of quarterbacks winning in the Heisman in 2004.

With a minute to go down 38-35 it would be Reggie Bush for USC that would return a kickoff to down near midfield that would help a game winning touchdown pass by Matt Leinart to Mike Williams with 20 seconds left in the game for the number 1 in the nation to walk away with a 42-38 win.

LSU would continue their bounce back with a win against the 7th ranked Florida Gators 38-24 as continue to prove that still on top of the SEC on a bye week for Tennessee

Auburn also would bounce back with a win against the undefeated 5th ranked Georgia Bulldogs with the 2 headed siren beast of Cadliac Williams and Ronnie Brown becoming too much got the Georgia defensive line to handle in a 42-28 victory which also saw a pick 6 by star cornerback Carlos Rogers


The Top 10 of the AP 25 after week 6 would have massive changes
1. Oklahoma
2. USC
3. Florida State
4. Miami (FL)
5. LSU
6. Michigan
7. Auburn
8. Texas
9. Georgia
10. Oregon State

 

[WB18]

Cardinals-Giants, Games 2&3:

In game 2 of the series, Jason Marquis faced Sidney Ponson. Marquis pitched excellently, allowing just 3 hits and 5 walks on an eight-inning, 108 pitch shutout. Ponson did not fare as well, allowing 4 runs in the third, including a Yadier Molina bomb that went into the water as the Cardinals take a 2-0 series lead heading home with a 5-0 win. Game 3 in St. Louis would see Matt Morris for the Cardinals against Kirk Rueter for the Giants. With San Fran facing elimination, the Giants would not go down without a fight, taking a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth. In the bottom of that inning, the Cardinals would tie it up on a Jim Edmonds double to score Albert Pujols. The game would turn into a marathon, going into the tenth, eleventh, twelfth and then thirteenth inning. That's when former Giant Reggie Sanders played hero for the Cards.

"The first pitch to Sanders, is a fly ball hit to center field, going back Torcato, at the wall, IT'S GONE!! Reggie Sanders wins it for the Cardinals, and they sweep the Giants in three straight games, and are moving on to the NLCS!"
-Cardinals radio broadcast of Reggie Sanders series clinching home run

Angels-Red Sox, Games 3&4

The series shifted to Fenway Park in Boston for the next two games with the series dead even at a game apiece. Game three saw Derek Lowe start for Boston against the Angels Kelvim Escobar. Like in the first two games, Boston would get a roaring start, getting six runs in the first inning, capped off by a Mark Bellhorn three run home run. By the third inning it was 11-0 Red Sox as the Angels had already changed pitchers twice. Though the Angels would fight back, thanks to a David Eckstein three run homer of his own in the seventh, Boston held on for a 12-5 win to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 would be a slow start for both teams offensively, with Pedro Martinez and Ramon Ortiz allowing just 2 hits between them through the first six innings. In the top of the seventh, the Angels finally broke through, thanks to a Bengie Molina home run off Martinez to take the lead, the lead would not last long, as Boston loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning. In came Brendan Donnelly and he promptly surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Manny Ramirez to give the Red Sox a lead they would never relinquish, taking home a 3-1 win in both the game and the series.

LCS matchups
ALCS: Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox (Games 1&2 in Chicago, Games 3-5 in Boston, Games 6&7 (if needed) in Chicago)
NLCS: Florida Marlins vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Games 1&2 in Miami, Games 3-5 in St. Louis, Games 6&7 (if needed) in Miami)

 

[Nivek]

Angels-Red Sox, Games 3&4

Typical angels playoffs post 2002

 

[WB18]

October 9, 2004: A surprising development, as former Yankees manager Joe Torre announces he will returning to managing in 2005, but with a new team. In a surprise to many in the baseball community, the San Diego Padres, a team that finished last in the NL West this past season but has some talent coming up next season, announced Torre would be the team's next manager. "I'm excited to be here in San Diego as is my family and I can't wait to get started here with the young talent we have on the team and in this farm system." said Torre at his introductory press conference. Meanwhile, ESPN reports that former Padres manager Bruce Bochy is taking interview requests with the Houston Astros, New York Mets and the Padres division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

October 10, 2004: Week 5 of the NFL season

Early window action includes the Patriots falling to 3-2 after a loss to the Rams in Foxborough as Eli Manning throws two costly interceptions in the second half as St. Louis takes it 23-16, Tom Brady and the Dolphins torch the Steelers defense in Pittsburgh as Brady throws for 4 TD's in a 31-13 Miami victory, the Bears bouncing back with a 19-7 slugfest win over the Redskins as the Chicago D forces 5 Dallas turnovers, Bob Stoops and the Giants improving to 3-2 with a last second Steve Christie field goal to beat the Redskins 24-21, Donovan McNabb establishing himself as the early MVP frontrunner by throwing for 264 yards and 4 TD's as the Eagles cruise by the Panthers in Carolina 34-9 in a game where Craig Krenzel was sacked 7 times, Phillip Rivers continuing his rookie season surprise with 2 TD passes in a 24-10 win over the Lions, disaster striking in Green Bay as Brett Farve goes down with an leg injury in the second quarter against the Seahawks in a 28-16 Seattle win, and the Texans getting their first win of the season over the Jets 21-16.

In the late window, the Vikings took a 17 point lead on the Jaguars in Jacksonville, only to lose in overtime 34-28 on a walkoff fumble return of all things, the Buccaneers defense continuing to play shutdown football, beating the Chargers in San Diego 22-3, highlighted by a Dexter Jackson pick six on just the third play of the game, the Cardinals getting their first win of the season over the 49ers in an ugly 9-3 game where both teams had just 98 combined yards of offense and the Saints improving to a surprising 3-2 with a 21-20 win over the Chiefs thanks to last second touchdown from Aaron Brooks to Joe Horn.

Sunday night would Peyton Manning and the Colts take on Sean Taylor and the Raiders. In a battle between two top-tier AFC teams, it was the homestanding Colts who came out on top that night, as Manning eluded the Raider defense for 3 touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison as the Colts send Oakland their first loss on the year, 27-14 your final.

Monday night would see a game for the ages between the Titans and Ravens in Baltimore, as both teams went blow for blow all night as the game went to overtime tied 23-23. In overtime, this would happen on the very first play.

"Here's the kickoff to start the overtime, fieldled by Justin McCareins at Tennessee 33.. HE FUBLES IT, RAVENS RECOVER, BART SCOTT RACING TOWARD THE ENDZONE, HE SCORES!!!, One of the most unbelievable ways to end a game has just took place here at M&T Bank Stadium! On the kickoff to start overtime, McCareins fumbles it and the Ravens win it!"
-Ravens radio broadcast of the game winning play

Teams on bye: Falcons, Bills

 

[KingSweden24]

Torre in San Diego 👀👀

 

[NyQuil]

October 12th 2004: The Green Bay Packers announced that Brett Favre is questionable to start week 6 putting his games started streak in jeopardy


October 13th 2004: Sammy Sosa is booed in public in the first time he is seen since the Cubs NLDS series loss for his tripping over the foul line incident that cost the Cubs the series.

It doesn’t help that Chicago sports talk hosts call for the Cubs to trade Sosa in the offseason


October 15th 2004: Roger Clemens is asked about his future by the the New York Post and if he would retire or return for a 22nd season in 2005 which a response of “This is a issue I need to talk to my family and agent with.”

Also the New York Yankees officially signed a new full contract for 5 years with new manager Willie Randolph