Post#1. Play Ball!

Okay, folks. I've invited everyone in the class to the blog—and most of you who played last year should still be able to access the blog. Last year was a learning experience for me, certainly, in usinga blog format for this class. It wasn't always as successful and as helpful as I hoped it would be. This year I hope it goes better.

First thing: every time has its own "site" so to speak. You will blog under your team; that's all. You are welcome to comment on others sites, if you want. If you're at all adept at using blogger, you can add pictures or whatever on your team site. What you have to do on your site is the following:

1. Put up your revised roster. You've done this already, twice for some of you, so just cut and paste. °List your 25 player active roster with their salaries.
°List separately your 3 or 4 player reserve roster with salaries. You can only play who is on your active roster, but you can call up anyone(s) from your reserve roster at least a game before they appear. You also have to send down the corresponding number of players.

2. Write down your 4 man pitching rotation. This is the order you will pitch them throughout the season. You can change the rotation if you want by replacing one pitcher with another. You cannot, though, make your third starter your first starter suddenly.

3. Name your closer. There are specific rules about what the closer can or cannot do. He is generally the pitcher you want to nail the save, the best relief pitcher in your bullpen.

4. When we begin playing, you will write a short summary of each game you play. You will:
° Give the score of the game.
° Give the winning pitcher (and his record if it is your player).
° Name the losing pitcher (and his record if it is your player).
° Name who got the save if it's your pitcher.
° Who hit any home runs for your team.

For example:

Red Sox 5, Athletics 4.

In a nail-biter, the Red Sox snuck by the A's in the ninth-inning on a 2-out single by pinch-hitter Jackie Bradley Jr. off closer Jim Johnson,  driving in Jose Reyes. Johnson negated a solid outing by Bartolo Colon. Getting the win for the Sox was Andrew Bailey (1-0) who relieved starter Danny Duffy in the ninth inning with the score tied. Duffy, the Sox number 3 starter, pitched well, striking out 7 and walking none.

WP: Andrew Bailey (1-0)
LP: Jim Johnson (0-1)
HR: Trout (Red Sox): 1 (1), Cespedes: 1 (2)

This I made up, of course, but you get the idea. You will do this for every game, with the highlights due at the end of each series. Split the chore between you. If you don't do this by the day after the series you do not got credit for the blog. And that will lower your grade. Have fun with this: you can even have your players and managers speak.