PVBL: Vero Beach Bums
Bums win thriller against Houston
August 24, 1998

Vero Beach, FL (AP) - The Houston Hellraisers wasted seven shutout innings by Tom Glavine and blew a six-run lead in their loss yesterday to the Vero Beach Bums. The Bums, who are the defending Defiant League champs, went on to win the home game 7-6, scoring all seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

"That was the most clutch run production we've probably ever had in a game," said 1B Jeff King, who contributed to the effort with an RBI double. DH Chuck Carr continued his excellent production in the ninth spot, scoring twice and driving in two runs with a double and his 9th HR of the season. CF Marquis Grissom also had an excellent day at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a 2-run home run in the ninth.

Houston starter Tom Glavine pitched seven shutout innings and left the game with a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh. The Hellraisers (56-68) tacked on an extra run in the top of the eighth against reliever Barney Berres. However, three Houston relievers stole a win from Glavine, blew a save, and recorded a loss, all in just 5 outs. The loss went to the usually dependable closer Luis Thomas, who drops to 2-2 on the year with a 2.22 ERA. Thomas has 11 saves and 7 holds, but no one really keeps track of how many blown saves anyone has. The Houston pen gave up 3 runs in the eighth and 4 runs in the ninth, including the game-winning base hit to Brian Jordan.

"That's what Jordan can do with guys on base," said SS Omar Vizquel, who scored the winning run.

The Bums (84-39), who enjoyed an off day after the victory, lead Picard rival Duluth (61-62) by 23 games at the end of today's action. With 41 games left to play, the Bums' magic number is now just 17. Any combination of Vero Beach wins and Duluth losses that adds up to 17 will give the Bums their second straight Picard Division crown. Even if the Bjork win all the rest of their games, finishing at 100-62, the Bums only need to compile a mediocre 17-22 record to win the division. That is significantly off the pace they have set in the last 283 regular season games (182-103, for a .639 winning percentage). [See article below.]

"It would take a miracle" for the Bjork to win the division, admitted Bums manager Phil Garner, in a moment of weakness. "That doesn't mean we're going to stop trying to win games," Garner added sharply. "We need to be mentally and physically sharp to make it through the playoffs, which I have a feeling are going to be tough as always."


Article: PVBL--Lonely at the top, crowded in the middle
Analysis by guest columnist Chipper Andujar

Vero Beach, FL (special to the Indian River County Gazette) - Everyone who follows the PVBL knows our own Vero Beach Bums are one of the elite teams in the league, along with teams like the Galena Hamsters, the Phoenix Gila Monsters, and the Punxatawney Groundhogs. However, the typical baseball fan might not notice the great disparity between teams like the Bums and the rest of the league.

Over the last 2 seasons, through today's games, five teams have compiled an overall .613 or better winning percentage. These are teams we all know: Galena, Vero Beach, the Motor City Madmen, Phoenix, and Punxatawney. These teams have a combined winning percentage of .631.

However, none of the other 25 teams has won more than 53.3% of their regular-season games. The equity between the teams in the middle of the league is almost staggering. After the 22.5 game difference between Punxatawney and the nearest team, the Washington Sea Dogs, another sixteen teams check in before you get another 22.5 game drop.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is really only one truly bad team: the Sacramento Knights. The Bums have been the recipients of at least their fair share of the Knights' generosity. The team that is the joy of Sacramento has won less than 37% of their games.

[Editor's Note: Check tonight's final edition for more incisive analysis from columnist Chipper Andujar.]

Table: Composite 1997-1998 Regular Season Records, PVBL
Team                   1998 -  1997 - Total   (Pct.)

[.600 or better]
Galena .............. 81-44 -106-56 - 187-100 (.652)
Vero Beach .......... 84-39 - 98-64 - 182-103 (.639)
Motor City .......... 77-46 -102-60 - 179-106 (.628)
Phoenix ............. 85-40 - 94-68 - 179-108 (.624) 
Punxatawney ......... 69-53 -105-57 - 174-110 (.613)

[.500-.599]
Washington .......... 74-51 - 79-83 - 153-134 (.533)
Deadwood ............ 62-62 - 89-73 - 151-135 (.528) 
Springfield/Richmond  61-64 - 90-72 - 151-136 (.526)
Cockeysville ........ 62-63 - 85-77 - 147-140 (.512)
Hartford ............ 52-70 - 93-69 - 145-139 (.511)
Binghamton .......... 58-67 - 88-74 - 146-141 (.509)

[.400-.499]
Brooklyn/Thunder Bay  49-76 - 94-68 - 143-144 (.498)
New Diggens ......... 58-65 - 83-79 - 141-144 (.495)
Edmonton ............ 63-61 - 76-86 - 139-147 (.486)
Duluth .............. 61-62 - 77-85 - 138-147 (.484)
Chicago ............. 45-80 - 93-69 - 138-149 (.481)
Tucson .............. 72-53 - 66-96 - 138-149 (.481)
Bellingham/Medina ... 65-58 - 72-90 - 137-148 (.481)
Calgary/Springfield . 62-62 - 75-87 - 137-149 (.479)
Spokane ............. 60-63 - 71-91 - 131-154 (.460)
Montreal ............ 58-66 - 72-90 - 130-156 (.455)
Larimer ............. 58-67 - 71-91 - 129-158 (.449)
Laurel .............. 59-66 - 65-97 - 124-163 (.432)
Houston ............. 56-68 - 67-95 - 123-163 (.430)
Cincinnati/Anchorage  55-70 - 67-95 - 122-165 (.425)
Macon ............... 56-69 - 64-98 - 120-167 (.418)
Tampa Bay ........... 47-77 - 69-93 - 116-170 (.406)

[.399 or lower]
Sacramento .......... 49-76 -57-105 - 106-181 (.369)


--written by Jason Gohlke