The 2012 RBRL Spring season is now in the books after the completion of the League playoffs and World Series which concluded this past Friday.
Despite the rain on the final weekend of the season, the league races were still able to be decided, with the AL number one seed going to the Royals and in the NL top seed went to the Pirates.
The American League playoffs produced a few upsets. The sixth seeded Athletics saved their best for the playoffs as they defeated the White Sox in the quarterfinals behind Brandon Mullarkey’s triple and steal of home. For the second year in a row the Tigers (former Blue Jays) came on strong come playoff time as the fifth seeded squad beat both the Mariners and the favored Angels to reach the league final. Tommy White was the pitching star in the win over the Angels and he also provided a key run scoring hit in the quarterfinal win. However in the end, the talented top seeded Royals prevailed to represent the Americans in the World Series. In their 4-0 win in the final, it was Ron Bartalini’s pitching and Corey Kenney’s hitting that keyed a close affair that wasn’t settled until late in the game.
The National League playoffs featured a strong grouping of teams and a wide open race. The first notable outcome occurred when the Astros knocked off the defending champion Phillies with a 6-3 semi final win. It was Chris Millett’s two-run two-out single that opened up the lead and Jake Malinksi pitched five strong innings for the win. In the league final it was the Pirates, who had dispatched the hot Rockies the day before, with another stellar pitched outing beating the Astros 6-0. Joel DiMambro, Jared Stack, Andrew Cavazzoni and Sam Patterson combined for the shutout.
The World Series featured the league’s top team record-wise (Pirates) versus a team that has been three of the last four World Series (Royals).
In Game One, it was the Pirates C.J. DelGreco who was the hero with a two-run, two-out single in the seventh inning that gave the Pirates a 5-3 opening win. Patterson provided two hits, a double, and recorded the seventh inning save, and DiMambro had a run scoring triple. For the Royals, John Maroney had two of the Royals' three hits and Kenney kept his post season bat hot with a key two run single that tied the game in the fourth inning.
In Game Two, it appeared early that the Royals would force a deciding game three. Luis Sosa threw two shutout innings and Sean Duffy stroked a two run double as the Royals opened up a 5-0 lead. The Pirates chipped away slowly behind Matt Thomson and Jensen Reynoso’s hits and DelGreco’s two-run double. Then in the sixth Stack stroked the go ahead two run single to put the Pirates up 8-6. From there Cavazzoni finished off the job on the mound going three innings in a relief and striking out the final batter with the tying runs on base for his second victory of the series.
The final regular season player of the week awards:
Dynamik Sports Player of the Week
Josh Erikson 15 Angels
Josh led the shorthanded Angels to a key 7-1 victory over the Mariners to keep the Angels in first place. Josh had a four for four game which included a double and triple. On the mound he pitched three scoreless innings including five strikeouts while only allowing two hits. Overall this season Josh has displayed great leadership qualities and has been vocal in his support of the rookie members of the Halos.
Honorable Mention: Sam Powers 15 Tigers and Gary Eisnor 14 Padres
Olde Redding Butcher Shoppe Rookie of the Week
Cary Thabet 13 Tigers
Cary was called on to save a one run game for the Tigers this week and put the White Sox batters down 1-2-3 to give his team a much needed boost of confidence going into the playoffs. The one inning stint was Cary’s 24th inning pitched in his inaugural Babe Ruth season, the most on the team. Cary also drove in a run in the narrow victory over the White Sox and for the season he is batting .412 with a team leading 13 runs batted in.
Honorable Mention: Michael Sannella 13 Astros
