Punxatawney's Last Stand--One Final Gasp September 21, 2000
Punxatawney, PA (AP)
The Hogs have nearly fallen. After three straight Riker division championships
and missing a World Series title by 1 game last season, the Punxatawney
Groundhogs come into the final 10 games of the 2000 season in 3rd place in the
Riker division, but also just 3 games out. The Houston Hellraisers are 73-79,
leading the most pathetic division in league history. Tampa Bay is 71-81, two
back. Punxatawney is 70-82 and even Springfield isn't eliminated yet at 68-84.
However, in the last few games the Hogs have made up some ground. They've won
3 straight while Houston dropped 3 in a row and Tampa lost 2 of 3. How are
they doing it? The return of Jason Giambi from injury and Tony Batista's late
season resurgence are the two biggest factors.
Batista, in his worst season in career history, 10 for his last 14 with 6 extra
base hits. Giambi is hitting .282 with 20 homers. Now, with time running
short, the team will need to be working hard on every pitch. They play one
more against Tampa before a 3 game set against Springfield.
"We really can't afford to lose again," said GM Dan Shapiro. "But all we can
do is play our best, try and win every game, and hope the other teams don't."
With all the amazing wildcard races about, and the faltering Sled Dogs,
everyone is ignoring the Riker. Perhaps with the horrid records of the teams
in the division, rightfully so. But it is the closest division in league
history and almost anything could happen in this final week. Will it be the
classic underachiever Houston, riding the bat of Vinny Castilla and the arm of
Mariano Rivera? Or will it be a worst-to-first by Tampa Bay, barely scrapping
by and hoping for big performances from Daryl Kile and Magglio Ordonez? Can
Punxatawney, relying on Rolen, Batista, Martinez, and the crew, make a
comeback? Or can Springfield do the impossible behind Dean Palmer and
ex-Outlaw, with a championship ring, Todd Stottlemyre? Watch the exciting
final two weeks of Riker action closely!
