MLB 2K9 FRANCHISE BLOG - JBH3's Blog

JBH3's Blog

MLB 2K9 FRANCHISE BLOG

Posted on March 11, 2009 at 11:40 AM.

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Now that I�ve played 5 games, playing through my Phillies starting rotation, it�s time to rotate to a new user controlled team for 5 games.

Out of the 3 other teams available, WAS, BAL, and KC, KC was 1-4 after an opening series sweep in Chicago by the Sox. The 0-3 New York Yankees paid a visit to KC looking to avenge their opening series sweep by the Orioles.

The first two games of this series were simmed, as I was still playing w/ Philly at the time w/ both teams having took one a piece.

I take over control for the next 5 games w/ Zach Grienke facing CC Sabathia in the final and deciding game of this Yankees series. This game would shape up to be my best and most exciting one yet.

Before moving on to the results from the rubber match NYY vs KC game, here are my Opening Day Lineups/Starting Rotation for the 2009 Kansas City Royals.

RHP

1. CF - Coco Crisp
2. RF - David DeJesus
3. DH - Billy Butler
4. 1B - Mike Jacobs
5. LF - Jose Guillen
6. 3B - Alex Gordon
7. 2B - Mark Teahen
8. C - John Buck
9. SS - Mike Aviles

LHP
1. CF - Coco Crisp
2. RF - David DeJesus
3. DH - Billy Butler
4. 1B - Mike Jacobs
5. LF - Jose Guillen
6. C - Miguel Olivo
7. 3B - Alex Gordon
8. SS - Mike Aviles
9. 2B - Alberto Callaspo

Starting Rotation
1. Zach Grienke
2. Gil Meche
3. Brian Bannister
4. Kyle Davies
5. Luke Hochevar

Bullpen
CL Joakim Soria
SU Kyle Farnsworth
MR Joel Peralta
MR John Bale
MR Ron Mahay
LR Juan Cruz

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A Battle of Aces

Zach Grienke

VS.

CC Sabathia

Zach Grienke took the mound for the Royals, looking to rebound from a bad start in Chicago, hoping to get a his first win of the yr, and a BIG series win over the New York Yankees. He got through the first unscathed, giving up one hit, and getting a K against Derek Jeter. CC retired the side in order, and Grienke sailed through the 2nd, just like he did in the first, striking out Matsui to end the inning.

Mike Jacobs singled for KC�s 1st hit to start the 2nd inning, after CC fell behind him. The next batter, Jose Guillen, struck out to give the Yanks their 1st out of the 2nd inning, Miguel Olivo would send a shot to the RF gap (which rolled to the wall) putting KC on the board, after Mike Jacobs scored from 1st . CC would get out of the 2nd not surrendering any more runs; KC 1 - NYY 0.

Grienke sat down the Yanks in order again striking out two in the 3rd, and CC managed to get out of a jam w/ runners on the corners and one out in the bottom of the 3rd striking out KC twice to end the inning. The 4th inning was led off by Johnny Damon who grounded out to Mike Aviles. Jeter then came up next, and got on w/ a single. Jeter, had a large lead and seemed to be looking to steal, but Grienke spoiled his chances as he would pickoff Jeter from 1st. Had he not gotten picked off the very next batter, Mark Teixeira, would�ve had a 2R HR instead of a solo, but his blast to the RF upper deck only was able to tie the game for NY; KC 1 - NYY 1.

Fast forward to the bottom of 7th, where after retiring Miguel Olivo, Alex Gordon sent a double into the LF gap off CC, and the makings of a big inning were under way. With Mike Aviles coming up next, who was having some success off CC w/ 2 hits in the game already, NY pulled Sabathia in favor for the righty Brian Bruney. Aviles who doesn�t hit RH pitching as well as he does LH pitching was retired by Bruney, and 2B Alberto Callaspo was up next w/ two outs, a tie game, and a runner on second.

If there was ever an opportunity to win this game it was here, and with that in mind the LH Mark Teahen came on to pinch hit. Bruney quickly got two strikes on Teahen, but his next two pitches were missed and the count drew to 2-2. Teahen stayed alive fouling off the next two pitches, and for the 7th pitch of the AB, Teahen sent a liner up the middle scoring Alex Gordon from 2nd. A two out rally was under way! Two more hits later, and KC was winning 3-1 after a big two out rally in the B7th. NY pulled Bruney for Edwar Ramirez, and he got the Yanks out of the 7th.

Grienke came on to pitch the 8th, and after giving up a hit to start the inning retired the next 3 batters, striking out one, and pushing his K total to 6 for the game.

KC was sat down in order in the B8th, and Joakim Soria came on to pitch the 9th and close it out. It would turn out to be a wild ending.

Damon led off the inning w/ a ground out to 2nd. Next, Derek Jeter singled to start the NY rally. Mark Teixeira came up next, and hit a routine fly ball to LF that was bobbled by Dejesus for his 2nd error of the game, Derek Jeter scores to bring NY w/in 1, and Teixeira gets to first safely on the error.

Up next is A-Rod w/ 1 out and a runner on 1st. A-Rod, who had one other hit in the game, a triple, would connect on a 3-1 pitch by Soria for a single which would advance Teixeira to 3rd.

Jorge Posada was the next batter, and fell behind in the count, and on a 1-2 pitch sent a fly ball to left - Here was David Dejesus� chance to redeem himself - and he did!

Dejesus caught the ball - out #2, and sent a perfect throw to home plate where Miguel Olivo was able to catch the ball, hold onto it, and put the tag on Teixeira as he failed in trying to railroad Olivo - out #3 game over!

KC protects their home field, and takes their 1st series win of the year in an upset over the Yankees!

I�m beating myself up that I forgot to save the replay before exiting!

NYY 2 6 0 - XBH 1 3B, 1 HR
KC 3 8 2 - XBH 2 2B
WP: Z. Grienke 8.0IP 5H 1ER 0BB 6K
LP: B. Bruney 0.1IP 3H 2ER 1BB

Player of the Game:
Zack Grienke

8.0IP 5H 1ER 0BB 6K

NOTES:
CC Sabathia - 6.1IP 5H 1 ER 1BB 6K
Pitch Counts: KC 95-30; NYY 106-27.