Sci-Fi and Baseball

Today I take a brief look at a new Sci-Fi comic book series that I’ve been meaning to read, and I continue my restart of my Out of the Park Baseball season. So far, I’m feeling much better about the Second Chance League than I did about the First Timer League, and with the way MLB is headed, this may be the only baseball I get this year.

Robot Uprising

Well, that was an exciting introduction to a new science-fiction world.

Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen craft a compelling story in Descender #1 that pulled me in and has me looking for more. Fortunately, I know 31 more issues have already come out.

The idea seems to be a man versus machine situation where a superior force of robots has attacked a galactic civilization. Reduced to a fraction of what it was, humanity is seeking out answers ten years later from the developer of a child-like Android who may hold the key to surviving another attack.

Meanwhile, a young robot awakens to find everyone he knows is gone, and the universe is full of bounty hunters and frightened governments that are all out to get him.

SCL Season Continues

While in the real world, the MLB owners and the MLB Players Association can’t seem to figure out how to split the millions of dollars they’re gonna make if they just start playing baseball again, my Second Chance League continues in Out of the Park Baseball.

It’s unfortunate to see that even if given the go-ahead, as far as health concerns go, the greed of people is most likely gonna prevent us from having a baseball season in 2020. But aside from that pessimism, I’m happy to report that I completed my second game of the season, and this time around, I have not suffered any injuries so far.

So with the real MLB looked at, I’m ready to enjoy game 2 of the Second Chance League featuring the Angels against the cheating Astros. Pitching for Houston is Zack Greinke, who I fear is a bit better than the Angel’s starter, Andrew Heaney. Regardless, I’m feeling good about this game after we pulled off a 9–6 win in game one.

And in this game, we get to unleash our full offensive power by adding Shohei Ohtani as the DH. He doesn’t disappoint as he hits a line drive on the 3rd pitch he sees this season and picks up a single. Trout grounded out after him in the first, but it was a good start.

Things got moving in the 2nd as Justin Upton packed up a single and advanced to 2b on a passed ball. Ground outs by Jason Castro and Brian Goodwin send him home, and the Angels lead 1 to 0.

The 3rd inning saw Anthony Rendon smack a 3–2 pitch into left field for a double. He advanced to third on another passed ball by Garrett Stubbs and then scored on a long fly out to right by Ohtani…2 to 0.

Move on to the 6th, where the Angels start to break out. Greinke is going through the lineup for the 3rd time, and this is where things tend to get interesting. Mike Trout walks on a full count and in knocked in from first on a double by Jason Castro. Brian Goodwin is intentionally walked, and Andrelton Simmons hits into a fielder choice to leave runners at the corners for Albert Pujols. He singles past a diving Altuve scoring Castro, and the Angels take a 4 to 0 lead.

Houston finally gets on the board in the bottom of the 6th on back-to-back singles by Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez. Bregman scores on a sacrifice to deep center field to make the game 4 to 1 Angels. But the Angels get that run back in the top of the 7th as Anthony Rendon leads the inning off with a solo home run that knocks Greinke out of the game.

Things get quiet until Houston comes up in the 8th. Heaney gives way to Kyle Keller after throwing 105 pitches, and Keller allows a single to Carlos Correa, followed by a 2-run HR to Kyle Tucker. I was tempted to pull Keller but didn’t have anyone warming up. I’ve gotta learn the intricacies of running the bullpen better, but this is only my 6th game. In any case, Keller was able to get outta the inning without anymore bleeding.

The Angels go quietly in the 9th, and I bring in Hansel Robles to close out the game. All I can think of when I bring this guy in is Owen Wilson in Zoolander. I’ll be surprised when I actually look up what he looks like.

In any case, Altuve bunts for a one-out infield hit and advances to second on a walk to Bregman. Hansel settles down, though, to strike out the last two batters to pick up the save.

It was a good game, and there were plenty of times where I was worried things would turn out poorly for my team. This is precisely why I enjoy baseball and why I’m pissed the real guys aren’t getting any closer to playing because of money. Why is it that MLB is always forcing the fans to suffer because they can’t figure out how to split tons of cash?

Oh well, my Angels start out 2–0 in the Second Chance League, and I’m having my own baseball fun.

It’s a Wrap

As you can see, I’m clearly much happier so far in my Second Chance League without the injuries I suffered previously. Hopefully, things will continue that way, and I won’t have a highly demanding task thrown at me as I’m just learning the game.

As for Descender, I’m excited. This looks like it could be a lot of fun, and since it’s already a complete series, I won’t have to worry about a new release schedule or delays, I can get all the issues right now.

Ramble 2020.02.33 | Sci-Fi and Baseball