On Friday, I got a chance to play our commissioner, Mike Bunch for our November series. I like going to Mike’s house because that was the location of my first introduction of league APBA. It was way back in 1980 when I was a mere 16 years-old when my parents let me spend the weekend there with a bunch of ‘grownups’ to play APBA (Mom and Dad, what were you thinking?). Turned out I had a lot of fun and these guys were okay people.
This year though, Mike and his Bombers were tough hombres. Over the nine games we played, I was only able to win one. To make matters worse, Mike’s Bombers went 17-1 against me for the year. He can probably thank me for putting me in the 2024 playoffs if he doesn’t screw it up.
Mike’s Bombers are a good hitting team with Bobby Witt, Luis Robert, and Aaron Judge. And get this, Bob, he has Jordan Westburg, too. Pitching is suspect with mostly C starters.
It wasn’t that the Bombers killed the ball (at least in the beginning). They scored just enough to win every game except Game 2.
Some very few highlights
We had a couple stars in the nine-game series. After I did my stats, I was surprised to find out J.D. Martinez went 8 for 23 with 7 rbis. J.D. has not hit for the long ball this year and this series is no exception. He hit one dinger to raise his total to 21. I expected a little more from a hitter with 1-1-0-0.
I seemed to roll 11-0 on Jeremy Pena an awful lot. He ended up with seven doubles while going 10 for 26. Julio Rodriguez did his part by hitting three homers and driving in eight runs.
But it wasn’t enough.
Even in Game 9 when we seemed to have the game in hand, normally reliable reliever Mike King blew a save opportunity and the win for the Thunderchickens. For the series, King gave up seven earned runs in six innings.
Interestingly, the one pitcher who won was Bobby Miller. He came into the series with a 2-12 record.
It’s not looking good for the Twin City for a respectable 2024 showing. Currently, we’re tied for 8th place. And wow, it looks like Mike and his Bombers just hopped up a few spots in the standings.
The Thunderchickens have two more 9-game series left in the 2024 season. Next up: Mike’s son Dan Bunch and his Hustlers.
How long does it take you guys to play a 9 game series? Do you roll that in one sitting?
Hi Scott,
It usually takes about 4 hours or so. Mike and I like to talk so it may be longer. :)
Tom
So you are the guy who gets all the bad luck rolls against Mike now that I am not in the league.