World Series

Game 1: at Kansas City

Scott Erickson vs. Curt Schilling

Both Erickson and Schilling look good in the early going. KC strikes first on a third-inning single by Jim Edmonds, but Montreal ties it up in the fourth on Jay Buhner's homer.

Greg Gagne and Ken Caminiti commit errors in the fifth and all hell breaks loose. Jeff Cirillo hits a bases-loaded double and the Blue Devils end up with five runs in the frame. Cirillo strikes again in the sixth, hitting a three-run homer.

Schilling is dominant, striking our 14 Spectres, and the Blue Devils laugh their way to a 13-1 win.



Game 2: at Kansas City

Alex Fernandez vs. Jeff Fassero

Both teams score early; Alex Fernandez singles home a run in the top of the fourth to give Montreal a 3-1 lead. Then, for the second straight game, KC puts together a five-run inning. Mariano Duncan's three-run homer is the key blow (though Jeff Cirillo starts things off with a run-scoring double). The fifth innings sees the Spectres gain one run back on a Ken Caminiti/Barry Larkin home run exchange; Larkin scores on Barry Bonds' double in the seventh to make the score 8-5.

With two down in the ninth, Ken Griffey Jr. hits a bases-loaded double, tying the score. Griffey goes to third on a wild pitch but is stranded when Jay Buhner lines out.

Bob Wickman pitches a scoreless ninth; both teams go in order in the 10th.

Brady Anderson's one-out single in the 11th puts men on first and third, but the Spectres can't score the run as Ken Caminiti grounds out and Ken Griffey Jr. fans.

In the 11th, Chuck Carr doubles with one out, moves to third on a fly ball, and then scores the winner when Gold Glove winner Greg Gagne boots a grounder.

KC wins 9-8 and takes a 2-0 lead in the series.



Game 3: at Montreal

Al Leiter vs. Dave Burba

A mismatch on paper, but a close game through six. Montreal scores three in the first inning on Ken Caminiti's home run and a wild pitch, but the Blue Devils respond with two in the third and four in the fifth (Barry Larkin and Jim Edmonds providing home runs in the fifth). Brady Anderson's homer and Bret Boone's double an inning later make it a 6-5 game, but Scott Sanders has trouble in the eighth, allowing a two-run homer to Rafael Palmeiro and a two-run double to Bernard Gilkey. Eddie Taubensee and Joe Oliver trade solo catcher homers after that, but to no effect; KC wins 11-6 and is on the brink of the championship, up three games to none.



Game 4: at Montreal

Curt Schilling vs. Chuck Finley

Once again, the Spectres cannot touch Schilling. He strikes out only six in this outing, but allows only seven baserunners and one run in seven innings of work. Finley is nearly as effective but lasts only five innings. After allowing three straight baserunners to start the sixth, Eddie Guardado enters. He gets out of the sixth but allows two home runs in the seventh to give KC a 4-1 lead.

Mike James pitches the eighth for Kansas City. He walks the first two batters but gets a double play grounder from Ken Caminiti. Carlos Delgado salvages the inning from Montreal's view with a 2-run homer. Guardado exits in the ninth having allowed two to reach base; Omar Daal promptly allows and RBI single and an RBI ground out. The lead is back to three runs.

Francisco Cordova comes in to close things out. With one down, Tony Phillips reaches on an error. Randy Velarde strikes out, but Greg Gagne keeps the inning alive with a single. Brady Anderson comes up.. BOOM! Tie game. Anderson hits his eighth home run of the postseason.

With two down in the 10th, Willie Blair walks three straight KC batters, but strikes out Gilkey to end the threat. KC strands two more baserunners in the 11th and one more in the 12th (the Spectres going down in order in both the 10th and 11th innings.)

Greg Gagne leads off the 12th... HOME RUN!!!! Montreal avoids the sweep, taking game 4 by a 7-6 score.



Game 5: at Montreal

Jeff Fassero vs. Scott Erickson

Rafael Palmeiro leads off the game with a home run, and KC adds two more runs in the third. When Barry Larkin drives home another run in the fifth, it's a 4-0 lead for the Blue Devils.

Montreal scratches out one run in the fifth, then explodes in the sixth. Brady Anderson leads off with a home run, and two batters later Ken Griffey Jr. ties the score with a two-run shot. Bret Boone doubles home the lead run later that inning.

It's up to the Spectre bullpen now, and they're equal to the task. Eddie Guardado and Bob Wickman pitch scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth, respectively. Montreal adds an insurance run in the eighth, but Robb Nen doesn't need it, allowing only a one-out single to save the game.

Montreal cuts the lead to 3-2.



Game 6: at Kansas City

Alex Fernandez vs. Al Leiter

Montreal comes out of the box fast; Tony Phillips doubles; Brady Anderson homers; Ken Caminiti homers. They tack on another run later in the inning and lead 4-0 before the Blue Devils come to bat.

Brady Anderson homers again in the second, his 11th of the postseason. It's more than Alex Fernandez needs. He allows plenty of baserunners (nine hits and one walk) in his seven innings but allows nobody to cross home plate. Eddie Guardado relieves and shines, finishing up the shutout with two perfect innings on 19 pitches. Montreal wins, 6-0, to even the series and force a game 7!



Game 7: at Kansas City

Dave Burba vs. Curt Schiling

Unfortunately for Monreal, the deciding game brings Curt Schilling back to the mound. The first inning is a harbinger of things to come. Montreal loads the bases with none out, but manages only one run out of it when Ken Caminiti hits a tailor-made 4-6-3 DP grounder and Carlos Delgado strikes out. Having let Schilling off the hook, the Spectres let him into their heads. Though legitimate threats are few thereafter, in several innings the Spectres walk away scoreless having struck out for the third out with a man on third (4th, 6th, 8th). Schlling strikes out 12 batters overall, in eight innings of work.

Dave Burba has only one bad inning but it costs him. Jim Edmonds and Mariano Duncan hit doubles in the third, producing three runs. Montreal gets another chance at Mike James in the ninth, trailing 5-2. With two down, the Spectres muster a mini-rally with two walks and a base hit, loading the bases. Postseason MVP Brady Anderson comes to the plate and blasts a fly ball to right center... it's a solid hit but not quite deep enough. Series over, KC wins 5-2.

A disappointing but not unexpected end to a surprising playoff run.

Montreal receives the 14th pick in the 1997 draft. With a pitching staff growing older by the second, the Spectres grab young fireballer Kelvim Escobar in the first round. They're hopeful that Escobar can become a fixture in the rotation.

In the second round, Montreal takes a chance on an older pitcher, Bret Saberhagen, who missed the '96 season with arm trouble. Still rehabbing, the team hopes Saberhagen will be available in the second half of '97 and ready to play a major role in '98.

That concludes the draft for Montreal, which loses only two players: Randy Velarde and Scott Sanders.

The first round of the 1997 Centennial League Draft:

L.A OF VLADIMIR GUERERRO

Milwaukee OF TODD HELTON

Detroit P KEVIN MILLWOOD

Baltimore OF bObbY AbREU

Houston P RICK REED

Washington P bARTOLO COLON

KC SS MIGUEL TEJADA

Pittsburgh OF MAGGLIO ORDONEZ

Chicago Boot P DEREK LOWE

Chicago Sox C JORGE POSADA

Minnesota P LIVAN HERNANDEZ

Philly OF MIKE CAMERON

St. Louis P KEITH FOULKE

Montreal P KELVIM ESCObAR

NY Ryno P MATT MORRIS

Cleveland P JEFF SUPPAN

Houston P DUSTIN HERMANSON

CLE 3b JOSE VIDRO

KC P bRETT TOMKO

Houston P CARLOS PEREZ

SD P DARREN DRIEFERT

OC OF SHANNON STEWART

Milwaukee P CHRIS CARPENTER

Cinci P CORY LIDLE

I was pretty happy to get Escobar at 14.. Suppan would probably have been the choice if Escobar was taken earlier.

great second half, great playoff run

i wish i knew a nice song about Montreal Sinatra sang i could quote here

1996 in review:

Pitching

Alex Fernandez (20-12, 4.42, 1.34, .266/.315/.421) was the ace of the staff once again, throwing 256.2 innings in 41 starts. He struck out 217 to lead the team, though he also led in homers allowed with 32. He walked only 70 batters, best in the rotation despite leading in innings by a large margin.

Scott Erickson (12-16, 5.88, 1.67, .314/.370/.489) had a horrible first half and a reasonable second half, then pitched very well in the playoff (3-1 in five starts, 4.55 ERA). He allowed 292 hits but walked only 72 (and struck out only 118).

Chuck Finley (13-19, 5.82, 1.68, .292/.372/.449) had a miserable season. He walked far too many batters (107 in 224.1 innings) and had a hard time working out of trouble.

Dave Burba (11-12, 4.79, 1.60, .263/.359/.412) made a respectable debut in the rotation. He also walked too many (118 in 212.1 innings) but had more success in preventing base hits.

Robb Nen (2-3, 45/51, 2.23, 1.13, .218/.277/.282) was nearly untouchable as the closer, striking out 52 in 44 innings and not allowing a home run.

Scott Sanders (6-2, 5/7, 3.73, 1.28, .252/.312/.377) had some shaky outings but overall did a great job out of the pen. He threw 152 innings in 75 appearances and allowed only nine homers.

Rick Aguilera led a charmed life, accumulating nine wins with no losses despite a 7.36 ERA (.306/.340, .545, 21 homers allowed in 96.2 innings).

Eddie Guardado (7-2, 1/6, 4.76, 1.48, .243/.335/.472) also had home run problems, allowing 14 in 73.2 innings.

Bob Wickman (5-2, 0/2, 6.37, 1.55, .261/.357/.427) was mostly ineffective while rookie Omar Daal (4-2, 2/4, 4.53, 1.45, .267/.330/.379) showed some promise. Willie Blair and Mike Remlinger rarely pitched.



Hitting

Catcher - Eddie Taubensee (.323/.381/.496) missed nearly half the season with various ailments but was very productive when healthy. He hit 29 doubles and 10 homers in 93 games and drove in 69 runs. His backups didn't fare as well. Jayhawk Owens (.193/.266/.292) and John Wehner (.178/.224/.280) were little more effective than a pitcher at the plate.

First base - Carlos Delgado (.314/.384/.544) was marvelous in his first full season as a starter. He hit 37 doubles and 24 homers, and was one of five Spectres to drive in 100 runs.

Second base - Tony Phillips (.291/.421/.422) got the bulk of the playing time here; he scored 122 times but that ranked only fifth on the team. His fielding was Little League level, leading to his benching late in the season as the playoff run unfolded. Edgardo Alfonzo (.300/.337/.412) handled the job against -handed starters while Bret Boone (.218/.261/.356) and Randy Velarde (.246/.354/.360) pitched in.

Shortstop - Greg Gagne (.293/.400/.419) spent a good portion of the final stretch batting leadoff and proved more than capable. He hit 12 home runs and drove in 65.

Third base - Ken Caminiti was a monster (.354/.443/.634), leading the team in SLG and OBP. He hit 51 doubles and 37 homers, driving home 146 and scoring 138.

Outfield - Brady Anderson (.287/.372/.619) shattered team records with 57 home runs and 171 runs scored. He added 33 doubles and seven triples, falling just short of 100 XBH. He added 21 stolen bases to lead the team.

Ken Griffey Jr. (.290/.390/.551) was overshadowed somewhat by his teammates but still had a marvelous season. He scored 134, drove in 129, hit 38 homers, and stole 17 bases in 18 attempts.

Jay Buhner (.312/.399/.604) emerged as one of the league's most productive hitters. He hit 39 doubles, five triples, and 45 home runs, leading the team with 153 RBI. His 15-game hitting streak was the team's longest and he fell three hits short of 200.

Bench: The only significant bench player not mentioned already was Willie Greene (.242/.321/.489) who started strong and showed some power but tailed off as the season progressed.



The Spectres scored 1035 runs, fifth in the league, and ranked second with 263 home runs. The team's 5.26 ERA was 17th in the league but not much higher than the league average (5.13). Fielding was a huge problem as the team ranked near the bottom with a .972 fielding percentage and allowed over 130 unearned runs. Tony Phillips, in 89 games at second base, committed 46 errors. Carlos Delgado had 16 errors at first.

1997 Preview:



The Spectres will be hard-pressed to match the offensive output of last season. Brady Anderson's fluke season is unlikely to be replicated. There's still some room for improvement for young players like Carlos Delgado, Edgardo Alfonzo, Bret Boone, and Willie Greene, but the outfield trio of Anderson/Griffey Jr./Buhner is more likely to take a step back than to improve.

It's certainly a solid offense, and deep. The only significant loss is Randy Velarde. There figure to be battles for playing time at shortstop, where Willie Greene will try to convince management that his bat makes up for his glove, and second base, where Tony Phillips will get a chance to stave off Boone. Alfonzo may challenge for playing time in the infield as well, though his best position may be third base and it will be difficult to displace Caminiti.

The rotation will be much the same, though Willie Blair looks good this spring and will get a shot at breaking in as a fifth starter. The bullpen really needs to improve but it's hard to predict that will happen, as erratic as they have been.

The division race figures to be tight again.. with a little luck the Spectres may be part of the picture.

The Spectres will open the 1997 season at Houston.

Game 1: Scott Erickson gets the Opening Day assignment and continues to build on his strong finish last season, throwing eight shutout innings (six hits, one walk) at Houston. Montreal's offense is sluggish, but Carlos Delgado hits a two-run homer in the second inning and Robb Nen pitches a perfect ninth to complete the 2-0 shutout.

Game 2: Greg Gagne hits a two-run double in the eighth, breaking a 3-3 tie, and the Spectres hold on for a 6-4 win. Kelvim Escobar has to come in to get the last out after Robb Nen surrenders a run in the ninth.

Game 3: Willie Blair's first inning as a starting pitcher goes poorly, as the Lone Stars put three runs on the board. Blair allows five runs in his five-inning stint. Montreal, or at least Ken Caminiti, puts forth an ineffective late rally with two home runs, but the Spectres suffer their first loss of the season by a 9-3 score.

Home opener this weekend with St. Louis visiting.

Game 4: Chuck Finley still hasn't quite located his fastball this season... his first start is a disaster. Geronimo Berroa hits three home runs for St. Louis, Andres Galarraga adds two more, and the Blue Storm destroy the Spectres 18-5. Carlos Delgado and Jay Buhner each hit home runs for Montreal.

Game 5: Dave Burba doesn't get much leeway, and he probably doesn't deserve it. Todd Zeile's three-run homer leads to Burba's exit in the fourth, the Storm turning a 2-0 lead into a 4-2 deficit in that inning. Montreal rallies to take the lead in the bottom half, but Butch Huskey and Dan Wilson hit consecutive homers in the seventh off different Spectre relievers to make it a 7-5 St. Louis lead. The Spectres manage one more run, but leave two runners on in the ninth and drop a 7-6 decision.

Game 6: St. Louis' Justin Thompson allows only four hits in a complete game victory over the Spectres, earning his first win of the season. Jay Buhner accounts for Montreal's scoring with a two-run homer; Scott Erickson pitches well but prospect Jared Carmony fails, allowing two runs before getting through an inning. St. Louis wins, 4-2.

Montreal has lost four straight and now heads west to face the hated San Francisco 69ers.

Game 7: Ken Griffey Jr. finally gets an extra base hit, doubling home a run in the first (though another RBI is denied when Carlos Delgado is thrown out at home). Leading 4-1 after seven, Alex Fernandez tires in the eighth and allows a two-run homer to Ellis Burks, trimming the lead to one. Robb Nen can't keep pinch runner Chuck Carr from stealing second and third in the ninth inning; Carr scores the tying run on a double by Jose Vizcaino. Eddie Guardado retires Tino Martinez to send the game to extras. With one out in the 10th, Griffey Jr. is heard from again, blasting his first home run of the season to center field. Kelvim Escobar pitches a 1-2-3 bottom half for his second save, and the Spectres take the opener 5-4.

Game 8: Willie Blair is better in his second start than he was in his first, but he doesn't get much support from the heart of the batting order (Jay Buhner and Ken Caminiti leave 13 men on base between them) and the Niners even the series with a 4-3 win.

Game 9: Montreal gets only four hits, but one is a two-run double by Bret Boone and another is a two-run homer by Ken Caminiti. Chuck Finley tosses six scoreless innings and the Spectres take the series with a 4-1 decision in the finale.

Still winless at home, the Spectres return to Olympic Stadium to face the NL's new entry, the Milwaukee Krauts, transferred from the PL in a divisional realignment with Orange County.

Game 10: Montreal hits four home runs and Dave Burba throws six shutout innings as the Spectres score their first home victory in four tried, 11-0 over Milwaukee. The key inning is the seventh, as the Spectres hit two doubles and two home runs in extending a 3-0 lead to 11-0. Mike Remlinger pitches the final two innings, his first effective outing of the season.

Game 11: Montreal abuses a series of six Milwaukee pitchers, blasting 21 hits and four home runs, in a 14-2 victory. Brady Anderson hits his first of the season. Scott Erickson pitches a complete game for his second win.

Game 12: Ken Griffey Jr. hits two home runs and a double, driving home six runs (all with two outs) and the Spectres sweep Milwaukee with a 9-3 win. Willie Blair survives two home runs to pick up his first win of the season.

The first round of divisional play starts with a trip to Philadelphia to face the first place Keystones (9-3).

Game 13: Montreal doesn't do much against Frank Rodriguez, but they punish the Keystone bullpen for 12 runs over three innings and take the opener, 12-7. Alex Fernandez pitches seven strong innings; only a six-run ninth by Philly off of Mike Remlinger makes the score look close. Ken Caminiti drives in four runs and Carlos Delgado drives in three.

Game 14: Edgardo Alfonzo, a last-minute addition to the lineup, hits two home runs and drives home three as the Spectres top Philly and Mike Mussina, 6-3. Chuck Finley goes six for the win.

Game 15: Dave Burba gets pounded (and Ken Caminiti's two errors don't help matters), and puts the team in an 8-4 hole before leaving in the fourth. Mike Remlinger, however, manages four scoreless innings, allowing the Spectres to claw back. Montreal takes the lead with a four-run sixth and adds two more in the seventh on Brady Anderson's home run to take an 11-8 lead. The Keystones aren't done, though. Robb Nen faces three batters in the ninth, all reach base. Otis Nixon's two-run double chases Nen and Kelvim Escobar enters. He allows the tying run to score before stemming the tide, sending the game to extras. In the 10th, Carlos Delgado hits his second home run of the game with one down, and the Spectres go on to add two more runs to their lead. Prospect Jared Carmony pitches the bottom half and retires the side in order for his first save as the Spectres win a wild one, 14-11.

Game 16: Scott Erickson pitches a complete-game 5-hitter and the Spectres get just enough offense, including Carlos Delgado's seventh home run, to beat the Keystones 3-1. Erickson is now 3-0.

From Philly we head to New York to face the Cosmos, under new management this season.

Game 17: Tired Cosmo reliever Doug Bochtler is overmatched in the series opener, opening the gates to an eight-run sixth inning for the Spectres. Greg Gagne hits his first home run and the Spectres survive a late-inning blowup by Mike Remlinger to win 13-7.

Game 18: Alex Fernandez throws eight 3-hit innings and the Spectres destroy New York's Tim Belcher, collecting 19 hits and 19 runs for the day in a shutout victory. Carlos Hernandez hits his first home run and drives home six; Ken Griffey Jr. has three hits and five RBI; Alex Fernandez himself has three hits.

Game 19: Short on rested pitchers, New York forces Bobby Witt to endure the entirety of an 11-run third inning by Montreal, plus three more innings, and the Spectres rout the Cosmos 21-4. Montreal hits five homers, Jay Buhner drives home four, and winning pitcher Chuck Finley is 2-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Game 20: Ken Caminiti becomes the latest Spectre to drive home six runs in a game, blasting two home runs in a 16-9 rout of the Cosmos. Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't start, but hits a pinch hit grand slam in a 9-run eighth inning. Bob Wickman gives up a grand slam to Jeffrey Hammonds to mar an otherwise brilliant performance by the Spectre bullpen.

The first interleague matchups of the year are next, with Cleveland and Detroit on tap.

Game 21: Cleveland starter Tony Saunders walks six batters in three innings; Scott Erickson falls just short of pitching a complete game as the Spectres win for only the fourth time at home this season, 6-2.

Game 22: This one starts as a slugfest, with the Spectres taking an 8-6 lead after three innings. The last six innings are much calmer. Cleveland has the advantage in those frames, but Robb Nen pitches a scoreless ninth to preserve a 9-8 win.

Game 23: Chuck Finley throws eight scoreless innings and the Spectres collect 13 hits in an 8-0 shutout over the Facerockers.

Game 24: Montreal's 15-game winning streak comes to an end at the hands of Doug Drabek. Dave Burba allows three home runs, including the first two of the season for Ivan Rodriguez, as the Facerockers win 5-2.

Montreal will finish the first round of divisonal play with a home series against Pittsburgh.

Game 25: Ken Caminiti erases a 3-0 deficit with a three-run bomb in the sixth, then singles home the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Spectres to a 4-3 win over the Melons. Dave Burba, pinch-running for Carlos Delgado, scores the decisive run.

Game 26: Scott Erickson pitches a complete game seven-hit shutout and the Spectres beat Pittsburgh 5-0. Carlos Delgado hits two triples and Jay Buhner blasts a three-run home run.

Game 27: Hideo Nomo strikes out 14 Spectres in only six innings of work, and the Melons score three times in the ninth to snap a 1-1 tie; Pittsburgh wins 4-1 and Montreal wastes a brilliant performance by Willie Blair (7 IP, 0 ER).

Game 28: Pittsburgh takes an early 4-0 lead, but commits two key errors that let Montreal back into the game. Carlos Delgado and Jay Buhner hit big home runs, and Kelvim Escobar gets the final out when Robb Nen falters, saving a 7-6 win.

Interleague matchups with Chicago and Washington are next.