Koufax Nearly Matches Own Strikeout Record as Dead-Ballers Sweep Yankees to Start 6-0

Sandy Koufax Fans 20 More vs. 2001 Yanks

It's tough to top a 21-strikeout performance. That Sandy Koufax in his second time out would fall one short of repeating his historic Opening Day total, however, can hardly be considered a disappointment. The ace lefty went the distance in a 9-4 win on Thursday in the middle game of LA's sweep of the 2001 Yankees. The Dead-Ballers have taken advantage of back-to-back home series' to start the season to become the only VLB team to remain undefeated.

Around the League...

The 2001 Mariners reminded everybody why no team ever won more games in a season by bouncing back from a tough opening series in San Francisco with a sweep of the 2017 Houston Astros in their home-opening series at Safeco Field. Bret Boone led the way for the M's with a pair of homers and six RBI, while Seattle pitching found the Astros offense to be a little more tame away from their home ballpark...

The '95 Braves are having a hard time catching a break. After dropping the first two games of a dramatic opening series against the '70 Orioles, they would fare no better in another hard-fought series in Cincinnati, dropping two of three one-run contests to the Big Red Machine...

The pitcher's duel of Series Two came on Thursday in Oakland, where Dave Stewart bested the '86 Mets' Dwight Gooden, 1-0. Both aces went the distance, with Gooden striking out 12 on four hits but being bested by Stewart's eight-K, three-hit performance. The only run of the game came on a leadoff homer in the fifth from veteran DH Dave Parker. Oakland would complete a sweep on Friday, leaving the Mets as the only VLB team still seeking a victory.


WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1976

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1976

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1976

ON DECK: SERIES THREE

1965 LOS ANGELES DEAD-BALLERS (6-0) @ 1995 ATLANTA BRAVES (2-4)

7/10: Claude Osteen (1-0, 5.14) vs. John Smoltz (0-0, 7.11)

7/11: Johnny Podres (1-0, 2.45) vs. Steve Avery (0-0, 1.50)

7/12: Sandy Koufax (2-0, 2.00) vs. Greg Maddux (0-0, 2.57)

1975 CINCINNATI REDS (4-2) @ 2004 BOSTON RED SOX (4-2)

7/10: Fred Norman (0-0, 9.64) vs. Derek Lowe (0-0, 4.26)

7/11: Jack Billingham (0-0, 12.71) vs. Bronson Arroyo (0-1, 7.50)
7/12: Don Gullett (0-2, 4.80) vs. Pedro Martinez (1-0, 2.93)

2001 SEATTLE MARINERS (4-2) @ 1989 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (3-3)

7/10: Aaron Sele (0-1, 5.14) vs. Bob Welch (0-1, 14.73)

7/11: Paul Abbott (1-0, 3.86) vs. Storm Davis (1-0, 2.57)
7/12: Jamie Moyer (1-1, 7.82) vs. Dave Stewart (1-1, 4.26)

2017 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (2-4) @ 2017 HOUSTON ASTROS (3-3)

7/10: Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 9.64) vs. Lance McCullers, Jr. (1-0, 5.87)

7/11: Kenta Maeda (1-0, 3.86) vs. Mike Fiers (0-1, 7.11)
7/12: Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 10.13) vs. Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 6.23)

1970 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (4-2) @ 1986 NEW YORK METS (0-6)

7/10: Dave McNally (0-0, 11.57) vs. Ron Darling (0-0, 9.82)

7/11: Jim Hardin (1-0, 1.04) vs. Sid Fernandez (0-1, 5.63)
7/12: Jim Palmer (0-0, 1.80) vs. Dwight Gooden (0-2, 4.05)

2001 NEW YORK YANKEES (1-5) @ 2012 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (3-3)

7/10: Roger Clemens (0-0, 3.86) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (1-0, 2.57)

7/11: Orlando Hernandez (0-1, 3.38) vs. Tim Lincecum (0-1, 6.75)
7/12: Mike Mussina (1-1, 6.75) vs. Matt Cain (2-0, 4.20)

~ 2020 tBall Virtual League Baseball Cards ~

VLB Series One Review

7/5: ORIOLES 7 - BRAVES 6

7/6: BRAVES 10 - ORIOLES 9  (10 INNINGS)

For pure drama, no series delivered from start to finish like the one that took place with the 1970 Baltimore Orioles starting the season in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. The '95 Braves lost an 11-inning heart breaker on a soggy Opening Day. The Orioles lost their cleanup hitter to a four-day suspension for charging the mound.

Ryan Klesko Walks Off the O's in Series Finale

Atlanta struck back early in game two on Monday, scoring a pair of first inning runs against Mike Cuellar, but squandering an opportunity for more by leaving the bases loaded. Cuellar would settle in after that, keeping pace with Atlanta's Tom Glavine to keep the O's within a run going into the seventh down 2-1.

But a three-run Orioles rally in the seventh, padded by a three-run Don Buford homer in the ninth put the game seemingly out of reach as the Braves came up for their final turn down 7-3. Baltimore stopper Pete Richert had a tough time closing things out though, surrendering a two-out solo homer to Marquis Grissom, a four-pitch walk to Jeff Blauser, and a two-run blast to Chipper Jones, making it once again a one-run game. Richert would manage to settle down in time to retire Fred McGriff to preserve another thrilling win for the O's, and another agonizing defeat for Atlanta.

Undaunted, the Bravos jumped on O's starter Dave McNally early and often in the series finale on Tuesday. But a sickening feeling of déjà vu settled over Fulton County Stadium as Braves co-ace John Smoltz failed to hold an early 2-1 lead and was knocked out after putting a couple of runners on to start the seventh. He could only watch in horror, along with Braves fans everywhere, as slick-fielding, light-hitting, Mark "The Blade" Belanger dropped a grand slam just over the fence at the left field pole to overtake what had been an 8-5 Atlanta advantage.

It was to be story of resilience, however, rather than tragedy. Javy Lopez homered in the eighth against Eddie Watt to tie it. And Ryan Klesko would give Braves fans a happy ending for their perseverance with a walkoff hit against Marcelino Lopez in the tenth inning to end this playoff-intense opening series.


7/5: RED SOX 8 - METS 2

7/6: RED SOX 16 - METS 9

RAMIREZ

It seemed as though the '04 Red Sox came into Queens to open the VLB season seeking vengeance for the humiliation the franchise suffered at the hands of the '86 Mets. By the time they left town, they had accomplished all but guiding that ground ball retroactively into Bill Buckner's glove.

Manny Ramirez would serve as Boston's enforcer throughout the series, breaking out on top of the league with eight hits, four home runs and 11 RBI in the crushing sweep at Shea Stadium. The Sox also got standout performances from Curt Schilling (8 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 15 k, 0 BB) on Monday and Nomar Garciaparra, who contributed five knocks to Boston's 20-hit attack on Tuesday.


7/5: DEAD-BALLERS 4 - DODGERS 2

7/6: DEAD-BALLERS 6 - DODGERS 5

The 1965 Dead-Ballers made an emphatic opening statement on the question of whether their superior pitching would be enough to hold down the historically powerful 2017 edition of the franchise. Sandy Koufax dazed the Dodgers with a left jab in the opener, followed by a hard right cross from big Don Drysdale to put them on the ropes on Monday, before lefty Claude Osteen would deal a knockout blow on Tuesday night. Combined, the three limited the Dodgers to just six runs on eleven hits, striking out 39 hapless hitters in the stunning sweep.

Don Drysdale Dominates the Dodgers to Take Control of the Opening Series

Ron Fairly, who drove home three in the opener, stayed hot on Monday, belting two-run homer in the second to put the Dead-Ballers up against veteran lefty Rich Hill. They gave Drysdale two more runs to work with in the fourth and he took care of the rest with eight innings of three-hit ball with 11 K's and a walk.

The Dead-Ballers took adavantage of a rocky start by  Hyun-Jin Ryu to propel them to a third straight win on Tuesday. The normally sharp lefty walked Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam to start his night and the Davis Boys, Willie and Tommy, made him pay with back-to-back homers for a quick lead. Fairly would come through again, driving in a fifth-inning run to make it 5-0 and give Osteen the support he would need to complete the sweep.


7/5: MARINERS 12 - GIANTS 4

7/6: GIANTS 5 - MARINERS 2

John Olerud Drives in Five Runs on Monday

The '01 Mariners bounced back from a tough Opening Day loss in San Francisco with an offensive explosion on Monday in support of an impressive outing by Freddy Garcia, who struck out 11 in going the distance for the 12-4 win.

John Olerud and Brett Boone would lead the M's charge with the bats. Each launched a two-run homer to contribute to a rough outing by Giants' starter Madison Bumgarner, who was touched up for six runs on nine hits before exiting in the fifth. The pair would ultimately both score three runs on three hits, with Boone driving in four runs and Olerud five.

Ryan Vogelsong, however, was able to tame the M's offense in the series rubber match, with a solid seven-inning performance for a 5-2 win. A pair of Brandon Crawford homers keyed a San Francisco comeback, as well as another blast off the bat of Hunter Pence, his third already on the young season.


7/5: REDS 7 - YANKEES 3

7/6: REDS 6 - YANKEES 5

The 1975 Reds bounced back from an Opening Day loss at Yankee Stadium to even the series on Monday behind a strong performance from starter Gary Nolan, who went the distance, striking out 14, in a 7-3 win. Johnny Bench got the Big Red Machine rolling with a three-run homer in the third against Yankee starter Andy Pettitte.

On the strength of solo homers by Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter and Scott Brosius against Cincinnati starter Fred Norman, the Yanks held a 5-2 lead through five in the rubber match on Tuesday night. Then Bench struck again for the Reds in the sixth against Roger Clemens with his third home run in three VLB games to make it 5-3. Clemens would exit leading by that score after seven, limiting Cincy to just four hits and a walk with 12 strikeouts.

Yankee stopper Mariano Rivera was brought on to start the eighth. But after a quick out, Rivera surrendered consecutive hits to Cesar Geronimo, Pete Rose and Ken Griffey, that latter of which brought the Reds to within a run. Joe Morgan walked to load the bases, but Rivera settled down to strike out the dangerous Bench and Tony Perez to preserve the lead.

Johnny Bench Launches His Third Homer in the Bronx

Rivera was removed in favor of lefty Mike Stanton after surrendering a leadoff hit to George Foster in the ninth. Stanton quickly disposed of Dan Dreissen and Dave Concepcion to put New York an out away from a series win. But Stanton walked Geronimo on four pitches to extend the inning and bring up Doug Flynn. The 24-year-old infielder was only in the game because Rose exited when a hamstring tightened up on him while running the base paths in the previous inning. Flynn would work a 3-2 count before lining a bases-clearing double over the head of Bernie Williams in center for what would be a game-winning hit. Rawley Eastwick struck out the side in order in the bottom of the frame to save the thrilling 6-5 comeback victory.


7/5: ASTROS 5 - ATHLETICS 2

7/6: ASTROS 8 - ATHLETICS 5

The '89 Athletics' opening series in Houston felt a little more like batting practice for the home team at times, with the '17 Astros connecting for 32 hits in the three games, including seven that would leave the yard. Although neither game two nor three was the kind of blowout Oakland would suffer on Opening Day, the A's would never see a lead at any point in the Houston sweep.

McCULLERS

It's no surprise that this team would put a lot of runs on the board in their home ballpark. Perhaps more authentically impressive, Houston's rotation managed to miss more bats than even the Dead-Baller's devastating assault in Los Angeles. Both Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton fanned fourteen A's before Lance McCullers, Jr., would outpace his teammates with a sixteen-strikeout performance (with no free passes) in the finale. The Swinging A's couldn't be happier to be getting out of Houston.

ON DECK: SERIES TWO

2004 BOSTON RED SOX (3-0) @ 1970 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (2-1)
7/7: Bronson Arroyo (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jim Hardin (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Pedro Martinez (1-0, 3.24) vs. Jim Palmer (0-0, 2.57)
7/9: Curt Schilling (1-0, 2.25) vs. Mike Cuellar (1-0, 3.86)

2001 NEW YORK YANKEES (1-2) @ 1965 LOS ANGELES DEAD-BALLERS (3-0)
7/7: Orlando Hernandez (0-0, 0.00) vs. Johnny Podres (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Mike Mussina (1-0, 3.52) vs. Sandy Koufax (1-0, 0.00)
7/9: Andy Pettitte (0-1, 13.50) vs. Don Drysdale (1-0, 2.25)

1995 ATLANTA BRAVES (1-2) @ 1975 CINCINNATI REDS (2-1)
7/7: Steve Avery (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jack Billingham (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Greg Maddux (0-0, 2.57) vs. Don Gullett (0-1, 3.86)
7/9: Tom Glavine (0-1, 5.63) vs. Gary Nolan (1-0, 3.00)

2017 HOUSTON ASTROS (3-0) @ SEATTLE MARINERS (1-2)
7/7: Mike Fiers (0-0, 0.00) vs. Paul Abbott (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Dallas Keuchel (1-0, 3.24) vs. Jamie Moyer (0-1, 17.18)
7/9: Charlie Morton (1-0, 2.35) vs. Freddy Garcia (1-0, 4.00)

2012 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (2-1) @ 2017 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (0-3)
7/7: Tim Lincecum (0-0, 0.00) vs. Kenta Maeda (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Matt Cain (1-0, 6.43) vs. Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 7.50)
7/9: Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 8.44) vs. Rich Hill (0-1, 4.91)

1986 NEW YORK METS (0-3) @ 1989 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (0-3)
7/7: Sid Fernandez (0-0, 0.00) vs. Storm Davis (0-0, 0.00)
7/8: Dwight Gooden (0-1, 8.44) vs. Dave Stewart (0-1, 14.73)
7/9: Bob Ojeda (0-1, 6.43) vs. Mike Moore (0-1, 7.11)

~ 2020 tBall Virtual League Baseball Cards ~

KOUFAX Ks 21 IN OPENING DAY PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES!

7/4: DEAD-BALLERS 5 - DODGERS 0

In a highly-anticipated battle of the aces on VLB's Opening Day In Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, one man took his game to a level never seen on a Major League Field. While the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw had a surprisingly hard time with the Dead-Ballers' offense, allowing five runs in six innings of work, Sandy Koufax would carve through the powerful 2017 Dodgers offense like a hot knife through butter, en route to a two-hit complete-game 5-0 victory over their intracity rivals.

Sandy Koufax Delivers the First Pitch in VLB History

From nearly the first pitch in Virtual League Baseball history, through his 145th and final pitch of the ballgame, "The Left Arm of God" was in complete control, establishing a VLB single-game record of 21 strikeouts that is unlikely to fall anytime soon. The total eclipses the Major League record of 20 strikeouts jointly held by Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer. Koufax would twice reach the 18 K plateau in his career to set his personal-best MLB game total.

It would take a few batters for Koufax to settle into a groove, though. Chris Taylor laced a line-drive single to open the game, and with one out Koufax hit Justin Turner with a pitch to put him in a jam. But that's when the dominance would begin, as the Dead-Baller ace fanned Cody Bellinger and Kiké Hernández to wriggle off the hook.

By the time Koufax had recorded two outs in the ninth inning, no other Dodger batter had reached on a hit. Taylor, Hernández, Joc Pederson and Logan Forsythe were all sporting a golden sombrero (three strikeouts), while Bellinger had just been fitted for a grand sombrero with his fourth of the contest. Hernández then drove a double into the right-center field gap before Koufax would retire Yasiel Puig on a ground ball to third to put the Dodgers out of their misery. His final line: 9 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 21 K, 3 BB.

Koufax was working with more run support than he's used to receiving, which was all the more surprising given the presence of Kershaw as his mound foe. The Dodgers' ace was not entirely off his game, allowing just five hits and no walks against eight strikeouts. But two of those hits left the yard. The first came in the third inning, when Lou Johnson followed up a run-scoring double by Ron Fairly with a two-run shot. Fairly would launch a two-run homer of his own the following inning to cap the Dead-Ballers' scoring on this historic day.


7/4: ORIOLES 4 - BRAVES 2  (11 INNINGS)

Braves fans were treated to an exciting, extra-inning opener at Fulton County Stadium on Sunday. Unfortunately for them, the happy ending went to the visiting 1970 Orioles thanks to an eleventh-inning two-run homer served up to Frank Robinson by side-winding reliever Brad Clontz.

Frank Robinson Puts Baltimore Ahead for Good in the 11th Inning

The fireworks didn't end there, though. Boog Powell, following Robinson, was sent sprawling to the ground by a Clontz fastball that struck him square in the helmet. That slowed him down not in the least, as the 6'4", 230-pounder leaped to his feet and was on the pitcher's mound in a flash, flushed bright as his orange uniform, ready to crash down on the 180-lb. reliever like a tidal wave. Somehow Clontz ducked clear of the maelstrom and thankfully, although benches cleared and some heated wrestling ensued, no punches were thrown. Both Powell and Clontz were ejected.

It was a game that began with two pitching greats, Greg Maddux (7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 11 K, 0 BB) and Jim Palmer (7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 11 K, 2 BB) dueling to a draw. Both surrendered their only runs in the first inning. Don Buford led off against Maddux with a double that almost cleared the center field wall. Paul Blair followed that with a shot that did clear the wall in left to give the O's an early lead. But Fred McGriff would return the favor against Palmer in the bottom of the frame.

It was nine innings of goose eggs from then until Robinson's homer put the O's on top. The taste of victory would sour for the O's, however, when after the game VLB Commissioner Ethan Peterson handed down a four-game suspension to Powell for his actions. The Braves will likewise lose Clontz for two games for hitting Powell intentionally, in Peterson's view.


7/4: ASTROS 12 - ATHLETICS 3

It was a raucous crowd on hand at Minute Maid Park in Houston to see the '17 Astros run away with a 12-3 Opening Day victory over the '89 A's. Fans blew whistles and banged on garbage cans as Dallas Keuchel nearly went the distance, fanning 14 in 8.1 innings for the win.

It started as a tight, back-and-forth contest, but Houston pulled away for good in the fourth when Jose Altuve launched a two-out, two-run homer on a 3-2 slider from Dave Stewart. The Oakland ace would also surrender home runs to George Springer and Yuli Gurriel (his first of two on the night) before Altuve's blast knocked him out of the game. A puzzled Stewart said afterwards that it was as if they knew what was coming.


7/4: YANKEES 5 - REDS 3

O'NEILL

Yankee favorite Paul O'Neill thrilled an enthusiastic crowd in the Bronx with a pair of solo homers against '75 Reds starter Don Gullett, propelling the Bombers to a 5-3 Opening Day win. The veteran outfielder, who announced that this would be his final season, was honored in an emotional pregame ceremony before celebrating with a three-RBI day against the franchise he originally came up to the big leagues with.

Reds catcher Johnny Bench pulled Cincinnati to within a run with a solo shot in the seventh. But the Yanks Mike Mussina would fan 12 Reds in outlasting Gullett for the 5-3 victory. Mariano Rivera recorded the final four outs for the save.


7/4: RED SOX 7 - METS 3

The '86 Mets opened at Shea Stadium by taking Pedro Martinez deep three times. But none came with runners aboard and the Mets managed little else against the Boston ace, who worked into the ninth, striking out 12 in a 7-3 Red Sox win.

Mets starter Dwight Gooden also missed a lot of bats, fanning 11 Red Sox batters, but a few too many connected. Dr. K was touched up by a Jason Varitek homer and a two-run Manny Ramirez double on the way to a disappointing loss. Ramirez would punctuate the Sox win with a ninth-inning solo homer against Rick Anderson.


7/4: GIANTS 9 - MARINERS 7

Jamie Moyer and the '01 Mariners took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning of their Opening Day contest at AT&T Park in San Francisco. But with one out Buster Posey would break through for the 2012 Giants with a two-run homer. By the time he made the final out of the inning, the Giants would have a 7-3 lead that would ultimately stand up behind their ace, Matt Cain.

VLB Opening Day Is Just Around the Corner

July 2, 2020

Baseball is back! (Sort of.)

Virtual League Baseball will debut on Sunday, when the first of 22 three-game series' for each team will begin. Coverage here will be daily for the Opening Series games before settling into reporting at the end of each series throughout the season. VLB Digest wil return to daily coverage for the pennant races and post season.

Opening Day of course means marquee pitching matchups, and Virtual League Baseball will not be lacking for must-see battles as it gets started on the nation's Bicentennial, July 4, 1976.

Series One Previews

2017 LA Dodgers (104-58) @
1965 LA Dead-Ballers (97-65)

No VBL pitching pairing generates more anticipation than the duel between Dodger icons Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax set for Sunday's opener on the Chavez Ravine mound. Franchise bragging rights will be on the line right out of the gate, as two clubs with starkly different offensive approaches battle to support front-line pitching: '17 Dodgers (221 HR, 77 SB); '65 Dead-Ballers (78 HR, 172 SB).

7/4: Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31) vs. Sandy Koufax (26-, 2.04)
7/5: Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32) vs. Don Drysdale (23-12, 2.77)
7/6: Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-9, 3.77) vs. Claude Osteen (15-15, 2.79)


1989 Oakland Athletics (99-63) @ 2017 Houston Astros (101-61)

It's a battle of the cheaters to open the season in Houston, as the 'roid-raging A's come into the sign-stealing den of the outlaw Astros. Dave "Smoke" Stewart and Dallas Keuchel will be the first to take the mound and face the dirty lineups on Sunday. As good as the pitching may be, expect to see the ball flying all over Minute Maid Park in this opening series.

7/4: Dave Stewart (21-9, 3.32) vs. Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90)
7/5: Mike Moore (19-11, 2.61) vs. Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62)
7/6: Bob Welch (17-8, 3.00) vs. Lance McCullers, Jr. (7-4, 4.25)


2004 Boston Red Sox (98-64) @ 1986 New York Mets (108-54)

GOODEN

Seven decades into The Curse of the Bambino, this '86 Mets team dealt yet another crushing blow to Red Sox fans (and Bill Buckner's reputation) that was to be eased only when these '04 Sox finally broke the 86-year-old drought.

Led by catchers Jason Varitek and Gary Carter, the clubs will take the field on Opening Day at Shea Stadium featuring another mound battle for the ages between Pedro Martinez and "Dr. K," Dwight Gooden.

7/4: Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90) vs. Dwight Gooden (17-6, 2.84)
7/5: Curt Schilling (21-6, 3.26) vs. Bob Ojeda (18-5, 2.57)
7/6: Derek Lowe (14-12, 5.42) vs. Ron Darling (15-6, 2.81)


1970 Baltimore Orioles (108-54) @ 1995 Atlanta Braves (90-54)

This series features the best pitching matchups from game one through three in a clash of two of the more professional ballclubs in VLB. Both squads led their respective leagues in run prevention, though the Braves outpaced their nearest competition by a whopping half-run per game. They'll need to be on their game to stop these O's, who also scored more than any league opponent behind MVP Boog Powell and the Robinson Boys.

7/4: Jim Palmer (20-10, 2.71) vs. Greg Maddux (19-2, 1.63)
7/5: Mike Cuellar (24-8, 3.48) vs. Tom Glavine (16-7, 3.08)
7/6: Dave McNally (24-9, 3.22) vs. John Smoltz (12-7, 3.18)


2001 Seattle Mariners (116-46) @ 2012 San Francisco Giants (94-68)

ICHIRO

The record 116-win '01 Mariners, take the league's highest winning percentage (.716) into AT&T Park in in San Francisco to open with the '12 Giants, who feature the lowest (.580). But these games aren't played on paper (they're played by electrical impulses on a circuit board), so anything can happen as league MVPs Ichiro Suzuki and Buster Posey look to help get their squads off the blocks fast. Ageless wonder Jamie Moyer, who was a first-time 20-game winner at 38, gets the call for the M's in the opener against Matt Cain.

7/4: Jamie Moyer (20-6, 3.43) vs. Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79)
7/5: Freddy Garcia (18-6, 3.05) vs. Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37)
7/6: Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.60) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37)


1975 Cincinnati Reds (108-54) @ 2001 New York Yankees (95-65)

This is a battle of the heavyweights to open the season in The House That Ruth Built. The Bronx Bombers had an impressive 804-713 run differential, but that was dwarfed by Cincy's otherworldly 840-586 in 1975. The '76 edition of the Big Red Machine would sweep the Yankees to win a second straight championship, but these '01 Yanks figure to bring tougher pitching and a bit more firepower into this dogfight.

7/4: Don Gullett (15-4, 2.42) vs. Mike Mussina (17-11, 3.15)
7/5: Gary Nolan (15-9, 3.16) vs. Andy Pettitte (15-10, 3.99)
7/6: Fred Norman (12-4, 3.73) vs. Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51)

VLB Modern Division Preview

2004 Boston Red Sox

Manny Ramirez / Pedro Martinez

Perhaps only a team of self-proclaimed "Idiots" would lack the acumen to understand that a team does not rally from down three-zero in a seven-game post-season series. But ignorance would prove to be bliss for a club that against all odds  finally broke the 86-year Curse of the Bambino to bring Boston it's first Championship since the year Yankee fans once loved to chant: 1918.

With a Caveman roaming in center field, "Manny Being Manny," Schilling being Schilling, Pedro with his Yankee Oedipus complex, Kevin Millar speaking a language of his own, and a bigger-than-life Big Papi, this team certainly doesn't lack for characters. Or talent.

The pairing of Curt Schilling (21-6, 3.26) with Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90) gives the Sox a one-two punch atop their rotation to rival any in the league. They feature a similar dynamic duo in the lineup as well, with the oft-perplexing Manny Ramirez (.308, 43, 130) and the clutch DH David Ortiz (.301, 41, 139) manning the heart of the order. Johnny Damon (.304, 20, 94, 123 runs) gets the offense off and running from the leadoff spot. Brittle Boston icon Nomar Garciaparra (.308, 9, 41) remains their shortstop, but this team's emerging leader is catcher Jason Varitek (.296, 18, 73).

They may be a flaky bunch. But nobody should count this team out.  Ever.

2012 San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants from the first years of the previous decade were among the strangest not-quite dynasties in baseball history. Although they won three intermittent World Championships in five years, they weren't really good in the off years, and featured very different rosters for each winner, often relying on a collection of castoffs and temporary fixes to augment a core that would shift over time. This 94-win squad was the winningest and arguably best of the random champs.

Buster Posey / Pablo Sandoval

The one constant for these Giants is catcher Buster Posey (.336, 24, 103) who was the league's Most Valuable Player for 2012. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval (.283, 12, 63) struggles to maintain his weight and consistent performance, but the "Kung Fu Panda" does have a knack for the big moment and is adored by the team's fans. This edition of the team relies heavily on the tainted offensive output of Melky Cabrera (.346, 11, 60), he of a failed PED test.

The pitching staff is in transition from the era of Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79) and Tim Lincecum (10-15, 5.18), to the era of Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37), with help from crafty veterans Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37) and Barry Zito (15-8, 4.15).

The Giants championships were little miracles for their fans (and puzzles for others). It may take a digital miracle for this team to win a VLB Championship, but it's not wise to count anything out where this inordinately lucky bunch is concerned.

2017 Houston Astros

If a theory of this league is that every division needs a villain, the 2017 Astros are clearly the Darth Vader of Virtual League Baseball. The '86 Mets may have been too intense for their own good at times. The '89 A's had a rotten core of inflated egos and inauthentic talent. But these Astros engaged in a team-wide sign-stealing scheme that used cameras to capture signs, front-office formulas to decode them, and dirty deeds to relay pitch information to batters in real time. This team carries a stink as strong as perhaps only the dirty 1919 Black Sox of Chicago.

George Springer / Carlos Correa / Jose Altuve

Complicit in stealing the 2017 World Championship, though only benefiting from offensive support, the pitching staff features the theoretically authentic performances of Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90), Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62), and Brad Peacock (13-2, 3.00).

It's anyone's guess how much the sign bandits' offensive output is inflated by their cheating, but there are sure to be pitchers muttering throughout the league at the exploits of Jose Altuve (.346, 24, 81, 32 SB), Carlos Correa (.315, 24, 84), George Springer (.283, 34, 84), Alex Bregman (.284, 19, 71) and the rest of the Houston outlaws. There will be many hoping they will face the justice of falling well short of victory in the upcoming VLB season.

2017 Los Angeles Dodgers

Cody Bellinger / Justin Turner / Yasiel Puig

When the Astros evil deeds were exposed, there were many in Los Angeles agitating for a transfer of the Word Series trophy from Houston to LA. But the only title this worthy squad can possibly hold now is VLB Champion.

These Dodgers, the fifth of seven straight NL West Championship teams (and counting) might be the strongest of their divisional dynasty to date. The arrival of 21-year-old rookie phenom Cody Bellinger (.267, 37, 97) to man first base has a lot to do with that. But he is just one of eight Dodgers with double-digit home run production, including a career-high from mercurial right fielder Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74). All-Star shortstop Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77) anchors an infield that also includes team leaders in third baseman Justin Turner (.322, 21, 77) and veteran second baseman Chase Utley.

The Dodgers' time in Los Angeles has been marked by a perennially enviable assemblage of world-class starting pitching, and this team features one of the faces of that franchise tradition, the great Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31). He is supported in the rotation by All-Star Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72), determined veteran Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32), and Japanese import Kenta Maeda (13-6, 4.22). Plus closer Kenley Jansen (1.32, 41 saves, 109 K, 7 BB, 0.746 WHIP) is among the very best in the game.

Perhaps more than any, this Dodgers team was best poised to finally bring Los Angeles its first Championship since Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson led them to their improbable 1988 title. They head into this VLB season with a strong appetite for redemption and vengeance.

VLB Millennial Division Preview

1989 Oakland Athletics

If the '86 Mets are the rakish bad boys of the Classic Division, The 1989 Oakland A's are the clear villains of the Millennial Division, having served as the lab from which the steroids epidemic spread throughout Major League Baseball well into the current century. With over a thousand tainted lifetime home runs among them staining the record books, "The Bash Brothers," Mark McGwire (.231, 33, 95) and Jose Canseco (.269, 17, 57, in an injury-shortened 65 games), did as much as anyone to hurt the game during this era. Veterans Dave Parker (.264, 22, 97), Dave Henderson (.250, 15, 80) and Carney Lansford (.336, 2, 52, 37 SB) help make the lineup a ticking time bomb.

Jose Canseco / Mark McGwire

The Oakland rotation is rock solid, from their intense ace Dave Stewart (21-9, 3.32), to Mike Moore (19-11, 2.61), Bob Welch (17-8, 3.00), and Storm Davis (19-9, 4.36). And they have the bullpen to match, with veteran lefty Rick Honeycutt (2.35, 12 saves), and young righty Todd Burns (2.24, 8 saves) leading the support for what may be the greatest of their weapons. The remarkable Dennis Eckersley (1.56, 33 saves, 55 K, 3 BB) transitioned from all-star starter to become one of the most dominant closers in the history of the game.

Corrupt or not, this squad will be a threat to good and bad sportsmen alike in this league with their ill-gotten power coupled with a deep and reliable veteran pitching staff.

1995 Atlanta Braves

Greg Maddux / Tom Glavine / John Smoltz / Steve Avery

For fourteen straight (completed) seasons, spring training essentially extended throughout the summer for the Atlanta Braves, serving as fine-tuning for the real beginning of their season, known to other teams as the playoffs. That's the good news. The bad news is that in all of those chances, it was only these '95 Bravos who would take home the World Series trophy.

As was the hallmark of this dynasty, the thing that makes this Braves team relentless is its starting rotation, featuring the three-headed Hall-of-Fame monster of Greg Maddux (19-2, 1.63, 0.811 WHIP), Tom Glavine (16-7, 3.08), and John Smoltz (12-7, 3.18).

Offensively, "The Crime Dog," Fred McGriff (.280, 27, 93) takes a bite out of opposing pitchers, as do young outfielders Ryan Klesko (.310, 23, 70) and David Justice (.253, 24, 78). Switch-hitting rookie third baseman Chipper Jones (.265, 23, 86) provides the finishing piece to the divisional dynasty's only completed puzzle.

2001 New York Yankees

There has only been one true modern Major League dynasty, and (surprise) it's the New York Yankees, turn of the century edition. The strength of the team is its core (really five, not four) of Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

Bernie Williams / Paul O'Neill / Derek Jeter

This playoff edition of the team carried the weight of New York City on its shoulders more heavily than others, as American society was still in shock and just beginning its long recovery from the 9/11 terrorist attacks which saw the World Trade Center towers fall in lower Manhattan, killing more than 2,500 people.

They used that emotion and determination to beat the winningest team of all time en route to a suitably dramatic seven-game heart breaker of a Game Seven World Series loss far away in the Arizona desert.

This team has a very real chance to get their championship in the upcoming VLB season. The core is productive as ever: Williams (.307, 26, 94), Pettitte (15-10, 3.99), Posada (.277, 22, 95), Rivera (2.34, 50 saves, 0.905 WHIP), Jeter (.311, 21, 74, 27 SB). The "supporting cast" includes the 'roid-fueled "Rocket," Roger Clemens (20-3, 3.51), Hall-of-Fame pitcher and professional, Mike Musina (17-11, 3.15), and former Don Mattingly replacement Tino Martinez (.280, 34, 113) manning first base.

Upon the retirement of Mattingly in 1995, the Yankees were to go without a Captain until Jeter became "The Captain" in 2003. But if not in name, teammates will tell you that Paul O'Neill (.267, 21, 70, in his final MLB season) is every bit of a captain for the Yankees of this era.

2001 Seattle Mariners

Brett Boone / Ichiro Suzuki

So. The winningest single-season team in the 150+ year history of Major League Baseball is...? Somehow not the Yankees. In fact, some (including many of the team's tortured fans) would say the distinction belongs to perhaps the least likely franchise in professional sports existence today.

That's because to the Seattle Mariners, "winning" is a relative term. It's something the franchise failed to taste (or even get a whiff of) until a generation into its existence. But when it did, the taste was sweet... and franchise saving. Unfortunately, none of the teams featuring the generational talents of Ken Griffey, Jr., Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez was able to reach, let alone win, a World Series.

To say it was a surprise that only after the last of these carrier ships had sailed away that Seattle baseball would achieve its greatest success is an understatement. So how did they do it? One big factor is health. The rotation takes every turn, delivering at a consistently high level, with Jamie Moyer (20-6, 3.43), Freddy Garcia (18-6, 3.05), Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.60), and Paul Abbott (17-4, 4.25) shouldering the bulk of the load. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year, closer Kaz Sasaki (3.24, 45 saves) is no sophomore slumper.

The entire club fits the same mold, with not a weakness among them. Beginning his Mariners tenure way back in the Year Two B.G. (Before Griffey), DH Edgar Martinez (.306, 23, 116) is now this club's spiritual leader and still amazingly productive at the advanced baseball age of 38. Unflappable first baseman John Olerud (.302, 21, 95) is steady as usual. Second baseman Bret Boone (.331, 37, 141) is bringing his game to a whole new level. And center fielder Mike Cameron (.267, 25, 110, 34 SB, with other-worldy defense) achieves the seemingly-impossible by more than adequately replacing "The Kid" in center field.

But the spark that puts this team over the top comes from a wildly successful experiment. Never before has a position player been imported from Japanese professional baseball into the MLB ranks. Ichiro Suzuki makes it clear that it was about time. The right fielder with the agility of Spider-Man and an arm "like something out of Star Wars," shows America what Japan has known for years, that Ichiro is their generational talent. He would take home the AL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Awards, and win both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Awards, topping the Senior Circuit with a .350 batting average and 56 stolen bases in '01.

All this would add up to 116 wins and still no trip to the Fall Classic for Seattle. Maybe this (whatever this is) will finally be the Mariners year?