The No-Free Agency No DH Association

[motnahp]

Game One goes to the visiting Brewers, 5-4 in 12 innings. Bill Spiers' RBI triple in the top of the 12th drove in the go-ahead run and Dan Plesac set down the Sox in order in the bottom of the 12th for the save.

Milwaukee opened the scoring in their half of the first on an RBI single by Dave Nilsson. Chicago tied the game at 1-1 when Frank Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk in the third. Milwaukee went up 2-1 in the top of the fifth on John Jaha's RBI single. The Brewers then increased their lead to 4-1 in the top of the eighth on a pinch-hit RBI single by Bill Doran and Paul Molitor's bases-loaded walk. Chicago tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a sac-fly by Nelson Santovenia and a two-run single by Tim Raines. Bruce Ruffin picked up the win for Milwaukee, while Jason Bere took the loss.

In game two, Milwaukee will send knuckleballer Tom Candiotti (12-8, 3.00) up against Alex Fernandez (14-10, 2.72).

[motnahp]

The Milwaukee Brewers head north after taking both games in Chicago. Milwaukee got solid pitching in a 3-2 win over the White Sox. The trio of Tom Candiotti, Angel Miranda, and Bruce Ruffin allowed only one run over eight innings. Dan Plesac allowed another run in the ninth, but still picked up the save.

Milwaukee broke out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on John Jaha's RBI single and Greg Vaughn's two-RBI double. The 3-0 score held until the bottom of the seventh, when Candiotti got into trouble. He was removed with the bases loaded. Angel Miranda walked Bo Jackson to force in a run, but then escaped further damage. Plesac came on in the bottom of the ninth with Milwaukee leading 3-1. He allowed an RBI single to Ozzie Guillen before retiring the side.

Chicago hopes to get back into the series as they send Jack McDowell (17-7, 2.52) up against Milwaukee's Bill Wegman (9-7, 3.81).

[motnahp]

This series continues to be a road series, as the White Sox won game three 7-5. Frank Thomas cracked a 3-run homer and added an RBI single to stake the ChiSox to an early 4-0 lead. They increased their lead to 5-0 on Scott Fletcher's RBI single in the fourth. Milwaukee cut the lead to 5-4 in their half of the fourth inning on RBI singles by Dave Nilsson and Kevin Seitzer and a two-run double by Jose Valentin.

The Brewers tied the score at 5-5 on a John Jaha RBI single in the seventh. Chicago tallied single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. Ozzie Guillen drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout, then Tim Raines added an insurance run in the ninth with a solo homer. Brian Drahman picked up the win in relief, while Chuck Cary collected the save. Graeme Lloyd took the loss.

It will be a battle of lefties in game four: Wilson Alvarez (15-7, 2.97) for Chicago and Teddy Higuera (5-5, 3.79) for Milwaukee.

[motnahp]

The Milwaukee Brewers are within a game of their third championship following a 4-1 win in game four of the series. Pitchers Ted Higuera, Angel Miranda and Dan Plesac held the powerful White Sox lineup to only 4 hits and struck out eight.

Milwaukee's John Jaha opened the scoring in the bottom of the third with his two-run single, followed by Dave Nilsson's RBI single. Chicago starter Wilson Alvarez walked the bases loaded in the third, then recorded two outs before Jaha and Nilsson made him pay. Chicago's Bo Jackson swatted a solo homer in the sixth for the White Sox' only run. Kevin Seitzer tacked on another run for the Brewers in the bottom of the seventh with his RBI single.

The Brewers will try to wrap things up in game five. Game One starters Tim Belcher and Jaime Navarro will match up again.

[motnahp]

Tim Belcher allowed only one unearned run over seven innings as Chicago sent the series back to the windy city with an easy 6-1 win over Milwaukee.

Scott Fletcher smacked a two-run homer and Belcher drove in two runs with a double.

Tom Candiotti and Alex Fernandez will take the hill for game six.

[motnahp]

The Milwaukee Brewers won their third title with a 5-2 victory in game six.

Kevin Reimer opened the scoring in the top of the fifth with an RBI single. Chicago tied the game at 1-1 in their bottom of the sixth on a Bo Jackson RBI single. The game stayed 1-1 until the top of the eighth. Milwaukee broke the game open on a Pat Listach RBI single, a bases loaded walk to Kevin Seitzer, an RBI groundout by Bill Speirs and a Darryl Hamilton sac-fly. Tim Raines singled in a run in the ninth for Chicago, but Dan Plesac came on to retire the side and earn his fourth save of the series.

Roger McDowell captured the Cy Young award, beating out sentimental favorite Nolan Ryan. Juan Gonzalez, as expected, took home MVP honors.

Now, it's on to 1969 a National League "No Free Agency" Association.

[motnahp]

After a holiday break, the NL NFAA will start up in a couple days. I am debating on whether or not to install the 1.41 BETA release. It looks as if the only two "problems" I was having with the 1.20 official release have been addressed.

According to what I'm reading on the board, the absurd number of pitchers' appearances and the RBI = MVP situations may have been cleared up, or certainly tweaked in a positive direction.

If there's anyone with additional feedback on these issues, I would appreciate it.