Prime Time Baseball: The Enhanced Career of Deion Sanders

Garrett Garlits

This timeline asks a simple question: What if Deion Sanders had concentrated on baseball instead of football?

I've often thought about doing an alternate universe career timeline on a player, but when you use a program as low-tech as WhatIf Sports, moving players to different teams is impossible. I could always use one player's stats to stand in for another, but how fair is that? Using Tee Martin to stand in for Tom Brady, as I thought if doing for one potential timeline, is like using an American Idol contest winner to stand in for Elvis; it makes the exercise completely pointless. So I have to use players who actually played on the teams I want to work with. i was racking my brain for questions I could ponder, and I hit on two-sport athletes. If they concentrated on their so-called "other" sport, what could they have done?

The two obvious choices for this were Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. I chose Deion because, quite frankly, Bo showed Hall of Fame flashes in both sports, Deion in baseball is a mystery; he played enough to show that he belonged in the majors, but not often enough to erase the idea that he'd have gotten better if only he'd worked at it.

Here are my ground rules:

1, Deion is on his team from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.

2, I'm only simulating games that Deion didn't play in. If he played, the result stays the same.

3. I'm only keeping track of batting average, home runs, and RBIs. If a reader would like to keep track of another stat and chime in on it from time to time, feel free,

4. If I can't remake the starting lineups of both teams in full, I'm leaving the game alone.

1989 stays as it is in real life, as WhatIf doesn't include Deion on their roster .

For the record, the Yankees finished 74-87, which was good enough for fifth place in the American League East, fourteen and a half games behind the division champion Toronto Blue Jays, In fourteen games, Deion hit .234 with two home runs and seven RBIs in fourteen games. He made his debut on May 31 against the Mariners and went one for four with a run scored and an RBI. The RBI came on a groundout in the fourth; the hit came on an infield single in the seventh. His first home run came on June 4 in Milwaukee off of the Brewers' Bryan Clutterbuck.

Next: We get down to business in 1990.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

Let's start 1990:

The Yankees won their season opener over the visiting Cleveland Indians 6-4 on April 12. Deion didn't play. He also didn't play in their 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on April 13, Deion began his season the following day in the Yanks' 8-4 loss against Texas. He started in left field and was hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts, He sat out the 3-1 win over the Rangers in the series finale.

The Yanks then went on to Detroit to start a road trip against the Tigers. Game 1 was all Detroit, as veteran Frank Tanana and Lance McCullers combined on a four-hit shutout, Deion had one of the hits: a bloop single to right center with one out in the second. But he was thrown out at second on a close play just two pitches later. He grounded out to second in the fifth and struck out swinging in the seventh. In the ninth, he came up with one out after designated hitter Steve Balboni walked and whacked the first pitch he saw deep to left. The ball died at the warning track, and Tigers left fielder Tracy Jones made the catch for out number two. Right fielder Jesse Barfield's grounder to short ended the night.

The Tigers were led offensively by first baseman Cecil Fielder, who hit a two-run homer to deep center in the first to give them all the runs they needed. He also doubled in a run in the fifth. If you add this game to his real-life stats, he now has fifty-two home runs and 135 RBIs for the season, Tanana struck out seven without allowing a walk. Yankees starter Tim Leary took the loss, giving up all seven Tigers runs on seven hits in just four innings.

Final totals: Tigers 7-9-0, Yankees 0-4-0.

W- Tanana (1-0)
L- Leary (0-1)

HR- DET: Fielder (52)

Ward loses a home run, which leaves him with eight.

Deion's stats: .160 batting average, three home runs, nine RBIs.

DET: 4-4

NYY: 3-2

In real life, the Yankees beat the Tigers 4-1. First baseman Don Mattingly had two hits, and left fielder Dave Winfleld singled in a pair of runs in the sixth. Leary pitched seven innings, giving up just one run on six hits, Dave Righetti pitched a perfect ninth for the save, Tanana gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings and took the loss.

Next: More of 1990.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

On Wednesday, April 18, the Tigers made it two in a row, beating the Yankees 8-4. Deion had the day off. He also sat the next night in Cleveland, watching as the Tribe scored the lone run of the game in the sixth on a triple by third baseman Tom Brookens and a passed ball,

He played in all three games at Texas that weekend. On Friday, he pinch-ran for Winfield in the top of the ninth with the Yanks trailing 6-5, Representing the tying run at first, he became the first out in Barfield's game-ending double play. The following night, the Yanks trailed 9-6 with second baseman Steve Sax at first in the top of the ninth, and Yankees manager Bucky Dent called on him to bat for shortstop Don Tollefson. Rangers manager Bobby Valentine countered by replacing reliever Craig McMurtry, a righthander, with lefthander Kenny Rogers. This forced Dent to call Deion, a lefthanded hitter, back in favor of the right-handed hitting Steve Balboni, who lined to short for the second out. The Rangers eventually won 9-6.

Deion actually batted the next day in the Yanks' 10-4 loss, as he pinch-hit for shortstop Alvaro Espinoza in the seventh inning with Tollefson running for Cerone at first, Tollefson moved up to second with Deion at the plate when Rangers catcher Geno Petralli allowed a passed ball. and Deion moved him to third with a grounder to second. Sax also grounded to second to end the inning.

Deion didn't play in the Yanks' 6-2 home win over the Mariners on April 24. The next night, he batted for third baseman Mike Blowers in the bottom of the ninth against Seattle closer Mike Schooler and struck out for the second out of the inning . The Yanks lost the game 5-2.

Next: Deion's back in the lineup on April 25 against the Mariners.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

Our story continues on April 25 at the Stadium. The Yanks were hosting the Mariners, and Deion started in center field and batted seventh against future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.

The Mariners took a quick 2-0 lead on Junior Griffey's two-run homer to right in the second off of Yankees starter Andy Hawkins. Barfield answered with a solo dinger of his own in the bottom of the second just ahead of Deion, who walked on five pitches, stole second, and scored the tying run on a base hit by catcher Bob Geren, Deion showed off his all-too-infrequent hustle in the top of the third when he raced into right center field to cut off a line drive single by Mariners shortstop Mike Brumley, spotted Brumley trying for a double, and hit Sax with a perfect throw. Sax's relay to Espinoza at short was in time, and the crowd cheered Deion wholeheartedly for the first time all season, "A little more hustle like that and a little less seif-promotion, and he'd be a lot better off," Yankee broadcaster Jim Kaat commented over the replay of Deion's feat.

The Yanks took a 4-2 leaf in the bottom of the third on a double by Sax, a single by Espinoza, and a double by Mattingly, With runners still at first and second after a two-out walk to Barfield, it was up to Deion. After looking ridiculous on a pair of Big Unit fastballs, he finally got bat on ball, but his line drive went right into the glove of Seattle second baseman Harold Reynolds. In the bottom of the fifth with the Yankee lead cut to 4-3, Deion came up after a two-our walk to Barfield and flied out to Greg Briley in right to end the inning, Geren homered in the sixth to make it 5-3 New York, but the Mariners took over with three in the seventh. Designated hitter Alvin Davis singled in the tying runs, and left fielder Jeffrey Leonard's single to right gave the Mariners the lead.

Deion led off the bottom of the eighth against Johnson and popped weakly to short. The Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against Schooler, as Sax lined a base hit to right, moved to third on a two-out single by Balboni, and scored on a bloop single by Winfield. The Mariners retook the lead in the top of the tenth on a single by Junior, a walk to Pete O'Brien, and a base hit by third baseman Edgar Martinez,

The Mariners now led 7-6, but Deion was due to lead off the bottom of the tenth. He did his job, drawing his second walk of the game against Mariners reliever Keith Comstock. He stole second, but had to hold while Cerone (batting for Geren) grounded to short and Blowers went down swinging. Sax walked to keep the inning alive, but Jim Leyritz's fly to shallow left ended the game with runners still at first and second.

Deion finished 0 for 3 with two walks and a run scored.

Final totals: Mariners 7-13-1, Yankees 6-12-0.

W- Schooler (1-0)
S- Comstock (1)
L- Cadaret (0-2)

HR- SEA: Griffey Jr. (23)
NYY: Barfield (25), Geren (9)

Deion's average is down to .157 for the year (22 for 140), with three homers and nine RBIs. One small positive: His two stolen bases today give him ten.

The Mariners prevailed in real life as well, 6-2. Reynolds' two-run homer was the key to a five-run second inning. while The Big Unit held the Yanks to two runs on four hits in six innings. Bill Swift pitched three innings to earn the save, while Hawkins took the loss. Barfield's pair of homers accounted for both New York runs.

Reynolds' lost homer leaves him with two for the year,

The Mariners are now 6-10, six and a half games out in the AL West and half a game in front of the last-place Royals. The Yankees are last un the AL East at 4-9, They're only four and a half games behind the first-place Blue Jays, but they've lost eight of bine after a 3-1 start.

Next: Prime Time makes an unexpected stop in the minors.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

Deion was the hero on April 27 against the Angels. as he batted for Blowers in the bottom of the eighth and drove in the winning run with an RBI grounder to short as the Yanks prevailed 5-4. Roberto Kelly, the runner who scored. had led off with a single up the middle and moved to third on Cerone's single up the middle. Deion ran for designated hitter Balboni in the bottom of the eighth the next day in the Yanks' 3-2 win and didn't get an at-bat. He was also used solely as a pinch-runner, this time for pinch-hitter Mel Hall, in the ninth inning of their 4-3 loss to the Halos on April 29.

After the game, Deion was optioned to Triple A Columbus of the International League. He had sensed the move was coming and had no problem with it. "Even the best hit a stretch occasionally where things don't go right," he said after the game. "This is a pause, not a setback. I'll be back in a month or so once I get right."

It was how he answered the next question that concerned and angered the Yankees, as it would his other baseball employers through the years. When asked if he might try the NFL if he should continue to struggle in baseball, he answered, "That option's open as always. When you have the kind of talent thar I do, it's not right to limit yourself."

This was exactly what the Yankees dreaded: being used as Deion's side gig, a way to stay in shape for his real career. He'd been drafted by the Atlanta Falcons the previous year, and the Falcons had made a determined pitch to get him to join him once baseball season ended. The Yankees hadn't bothered to put a clause his contract forbidding him to play football, so they'd had to appeal to his vanity: Sure you're good enough at football to star in the NFL. You know that. But you'll never know how good you could have been at baseball unless you give it a real shot. A year-round shot. Football's a crutch, the easy way out. The only way to prove how good an athlete you really are is to tough it out in your second-best sport, the sport you once called your "mistress".

It sounded nonsensical even to general manager Gene Michael's ears. But miraculously, it had worked. The question was, could it keep working long enough to keep Deion off the football field this fall? And even if it did, how good could he really be?

Next: Deion returns to the big leagues.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

Deion returned to the majors on May 21, as the Yankees met the White Sox at Yankee Stadium. He started in left field and was one for three plus a walk and scored a run in the Yanks' 6-5 loss to the White Sox. The following night. he singled and scored a run in the Yankees' 5-2 win, but he also angered White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk when he came up in the third with one out and Randy Velarde at third. The controversy started when Deion drew a dollar sign in the dirt around home plate. He then hit a weak infield fly thar was caught by Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen for the second out. Deion chose not to run hard down the first base line, and the crowd at the Stadium booed loudly. Fisk screamed at Deion, "Run the fucking ball out, you piece of shit!" Later in the game, Deion got in Fisk's face and told him, "The days of slavery are over."

There were no further incidents during the game, but Fisk accused Deion of wanting to make a racial issue where none existed; to the man known as "Pudge", it was simply a question of effort: "There's a right way and a wrong way to play this game."

The Yankees moved on to Minnesota on May 23, and Deion went deep for the first time (chronologically) this year, as he hit a three-run homer off of the Twins' Tim Drummond as part of a 12-0 whitewashing of the Twins. That was also his first game of the year with more than one hit. He followed that up over the weekend in Kansas City by getting a hit and scoring a run in each of the three games against the Royals in Kansas City; unfortunately, the Yankees lost two out of three. He was striking out far too often; in the six games between his return and May 27, he fanned at least once a game and seven times overall.

May ended with three hitless games at Comiskey Park against Deion's old friend Pudge Fisk and the White Sox. He wore the collar for nine consecutive at-bats. though he drew walks in each of the last two games. His last hit had come in the Sunday game against the Royals, when he's doubled with one out in the eighth and scored on Claudell Washington's single. He'd been spotless in left field since his return, and almost everyone believed that his defense was the only thing keeping him employed. In May 29, with the Yanks trailing 4-3 in the seventh, his walk came with two out. He stole second. but was caught stealing third to end the inning.

I want to do full corrected standings once a month for this timeline. First, let's go back and take a look at April, The AL West is unaffected.

Brewers: 12-6
(tie) Red Sox: 11-8- 1.5 GB
(tie) Blue Jays: 12-9- 1.5 GB
Indians: 9-9- 3 GB
(tie) Orioles: 9-11- 4 GB
(tie) Tigers: 9-11-4 GB
Yankees: 6-11- 5.5 GB

Now for a look at May. Again, the West is unaffected:

Blue Jays: 26-23
Brewers: 23-21- .5 GB
Red Sox: 23-22- 1 GB
Indians: 22-23- 2 GB
Orioles: 21-26- 4 GB
Tigers: 21-28- 5 GB
Yankees: 16-28- 7.5 GB

Next: We move on into June:

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

June began with the Yanks dropping two out of three to the Orioles at home. The win came in the Friday night game (June 1) and Deion, who had been batting in the leadoff spot since his return but was now batting ninth, singled in Barfield in the fifth to tie the game at two. He also drew a walk in the sixth. As a reward. Dent put him back in the leadoff spot the following night, but he was hitless in the Yanks' 4-2 loss. He was also hitless (and batting ninth) the following day in a 4-3 defeat.

The next day, the Pinstripes made their first appearance of the year at Fenway Park. Deion pinch-ran for Cerone in the seventh with two out and Velarde at the plate. Velarde hit a grounder to shortstop Luis Rivera, who threw wild to first. Thinking quickly, Red Sox first baseman Carlos Quintana chased the ball down, then threw a strike to the plate. Deion wasn't exactly jogging, but he wasn't at full speed either, and catcher Tony Pena received the ball in plenty of time to tag a sheepish Deion and end the inning.

In what turned out to be Dent's final game as Yankees manager on June 5, Deion again ran for Cerone in the eighth. The Yanks scored four runs in the inning and Deion was on base when Velarde hit a two-run homer that tied the game at eight. The Bosox scored a run in the last of the eighth and prevailed 9-8. Stump Merrill, who had managed Deion at Columbus, took over the Yankees the next day and used him as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a 4-1 loss; he batted for Espinoza and lined out to Sox left fielder Mike Greenwell. He was hitless in three at-bats the following night as Red Sox pitchers Greg Harris and Jeff Reardon combined on a 3-0 one-hit shutout,

It was on to Baltimore the following night, as the Yanks dropped a 5-4 ten-inning decision to the Orioles. Deion was hitless in three official at-bats; he walked leading off the top of the seventh but was immediately erased when Sax grounded into a double play. He was held hitless the following night in a 10-1 blowout loss. Merrill decided to give him the day off the next day, and he watched his teammates beat the O's. 5-2.

Deion was limited to pinch-running duties on Tuesday. June 12; he ran for designated hitter Balboni after Steve had singled in what turned out to be the winning run in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox; he stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. but was stranded there when Washington struck out to end the inning. He was back in the starting lineup the following day but was hitless in three at-bats as the Red Sox prevailed 4-1. In the series finale on June 14, he pinch-ran for Jim Leyritz, the starting left fielder, in the seventh and scored an insurance run on Geren's double to left. He also got an at-bat of his own in the bottom of the eighth and was called out on strikes.

The Yankees welcomed the Blue Jays next, In the first game on Friday, June 15, Deion entered the game as a defensive replacement for Leyritz in left field in the seventh but was lifted for pinch-hitter Mel Hall in the ninth as the Yanks fell 5-4. He returned the favor the next night, pinch-running for Hall in the bottom of the eleventh with the Jays leading 2-1. Representing the tying run, he stole second but was stranded there, as Leyritz flied to right and Balboni was retired on a comebacker to Jays closer Duane Ward to end the game. He was 0 for 2 plus a walk in the series finale, which the Jays won 8-1.

The Yanks began a seven-game road trip in Milwaukee on Monday, June 18. Deion was one for three before being lifted for pinch-hitter Geren in the ninth. He led off the eighth with a base hit to center but was thrown out trying to steal second. The Yanks lost that game 4-2 but rebounded to win the following night 5-1, Deion was in the thick of the action for once; in the third, he walked, moved to second on a bunt single by Kelly, went to third on a productive fly ball by Sax. and scored on Mattingly's single. In the ninth, he led off with a double, moved to third on a one-out wild pitch by Brewers reliever Bob Sebra, and scored on another wild pitch by Sebra's successor, Paul Mirabella, He had the day off the next day, as the Yanks prevailed, 5-4.

On Thursday, June 21, the Yanks visited the Blue Jays at SkyDome for the first time this season. Deion entered the game in the eighth as a pinch-runner for Hall, stole second, moved to third on a Leyritz infield single, and scored when pinch-hitter Matt Nokes, batting for Geren, hit a two-run homer off of Blue Jays reliever Jim Acker. The Yanks ended up scoring four in the inning, then holding off a furious Toronto comeback to win 7-6. Deion took Hall's place in left field and grounded into an inning-ending double play in the ninth.

The Yanks and Jays played a fifteen-inning marathon the following night; the Yanks prevailed 8-7. Deion replaced Leyritz in left field in the eighth and ended up with three at-bats. He scored what turned out to be the winning run in the fifteenth . reaching on a two-base error by Jays second baseman Nelson Liriano, then scored on Blowers' base hit to center. On Saturday, June 23, Deion was one for five in the Jays' 8-4 win; his ninth-inning single loaded the bases, and a single by Sax scored Barfield with the fourth New York run. But closer Tom Henke struck out Mattingly and Hall to end the game.

Next: The series finale with the Blue Jays on June 24.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Skydome on June 24 for the series finale between the Yankees and the Blue Jays. Deion is the designated hitter for the first time this year, and he'll bat third.

Deion came to the plate for the first time against Blue Jays starter John Cerutti in the top of the first. Sax was at first with one man out, and Deion drove a 1-2 fastball deep to left, forcing the Jays' George Bell to make a running catch. Tony Kubek, calling the game for the Yankees and MSG Network, called it 'the best swing Deion's had all season, A few more like that and one of them is bound to get out of here." Sax was left at first when Balboni's comebacker ended the inning,

in the top of the second, Barfield drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Hall's infield single and to third on Leyritz's fly ball to right center. After Geren popped out, Velarde whacked the first pitch he saw into the seats in right center for a three-run homer.

Sax was at second with a leadoff double when Deion came up in the third. This time, his fly to left was shallow, and Bell made an easy catch. it was up to Balboni to make Cerutti pay, and he golfed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right to extend the Yankee lead to 5-0,

In the bottom of the fourth, shortstop Tony Fernandez singled to left with one out against Yankees starter Chuck Cary. A wild pitch moved him to second, and third baseman Kelly Gruber's fly to the warning track moved him to third. Bell beat out a bouncer to third for an infield single, and the Jays were on the board as Fernandez came home.

Deion's next time up was in the top of the fifth, Sax had lined a leadoff single to left center, and Deion's grounder to first moved him over to second. Balboni's bouncer to third moved him to third, but he was stranded when Barfield was called out on strikes.

In the bottom of the fifth, designated hitter Glenallen Hill led off with another infield single. Cary then hung a 1-1 curveball, and second baseman Manuel Lee smacked it over the center field wall for a home run to cut the New York lead to 5-3.

In the top of the sixth, Hall lined a leadoff single to right, Leyritz walked, and Geren ended Cerutti's day with a base hit to right that scored Hall. Duane Ward relieved and struck out Velarde for out number two, but Kelly's seeing-eye base hit to left center scored Leyritz to extend the Yankee lead to 7-3.

Deion popped out to Lee at second to begin the top of the seventh. Jays center fielder Mookie Wilson greeted Yankees reliever Lee Guetterman with a single to right center. Right fielder Junior Felix followed with a fly ball down the right field line that kept carrying until it disappeared over the wall for a two-run homer to cut the Yankee lead to 7-5.

Deion's final at-bat came in the top of the ninth with one out against Jays reliever Jim Acker. Here's how Jim Kaat called it:

"There you see Righetti getting loose in the New York bullpen, and he'll deal with Felix, Fernandez, and Gruber in the bottom of the ninth. One and one on Demio with two out here in the top of the ninth. Yankees leading 7-5 and looking to hold on. One-one from Acker's hit DEEP TO RIGHT CENTER, BACK GOES MOOKIE, AT THE WALL, AND GONE!........Deion Sanders, who's been really tagging the ball today, hits one over the wall in right center, and the Yankees lead 8-5."

Special mention must be made of Cary's pitching performance; he struck out nine Blue Jays in his six innings of work.

Final totals: Yankees 8-11-0. Blue Jays 5-11-0.

W- Cary (5-2)
S- Righetti (16)
L-Cerutti (3-6)

HR- NYY- Sanders (4), Veiarde (6), Balboni (18)
TOR: Felix (16), Lee (7)

In real life, Bell hit two home runs, and Lee went three for four and drove in two runs to pace the Jays to an 8-3 win. Cary lasted just two innings and gave up six runs on six hits in a losing cause. Bell's two lost homers leave him with nineteen. Geren also lost a dinger for the Yankees, which leaves him with eight for the year.

The Yankees' original final record of 67-95 is restored, while the Jays are 85-77 for the moment. They're now three games behind the Red Sox for the AL East lead.

Deion's average for the year is .159 (23 for 145) with four home runs and ten RBIs.

Note: I tried to keep doing real-time standings, but it got to be too confusing, The end-of-the-year record is more relevant to this exercise anyway,

Next: Can Deion continue to heat up as June turns into July?

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

His home run in Toronto notwithstanding, Deion was relegated to pinch-running duties in each of the Yankees' next three games against the Brewers, He got an at-bat in Game 1, as the Yanks scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to pad a 3-2 lead. He entered the game as a pinch-runner for Hall and was on base for Nokes' three-run homer, then batted in Hall's spot and flied to left. He pinch-ran for Espinoza on June 27 after Alvaro walked, moved to second when Sax forced Leyritz, and scored when Mattingly singled to left, The Brewers prevailed 5-4, Things worked out better on Thursday, June 28, when he ran for Balboni in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at two. He moved to second on Barfield's sacrifice bunt. to third on a groundout by Leyritz and scored on Geren's RBI single.

Next: The Yanks head to Chicago for a weekend series with the White Sox.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Comiskey Park in Chicago for the first game of the weekend series between the Yankees and the White Sox on June 29, Deion is the designated hitter for the Yankees and will be batting seventh,

The Yankees scored first in the top of the second. With one out, Nokes lined a base hit to right. Barfield's base hit to left put runners at the corners, and Deion followed with a tapper slightly up the first base line. The Chisox' Carlos Martinez flipped the ball to Scott Fletcher at second for the force on Barfield, but Deion beat the return throw to first to foil the double play as Nokes scored to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. Deion was caught trying to steal second to end the inning.

The Sox ended the game for all intents and purposes with a five-run third. Fletcher led off with a lined single to right center and moved to second on a base hit up the middle by center fielder Lance Johnson, A walk to shortstop Ozzie Guillen loaded the bases. Next was right fielder Sammy Sosa, who bounced one down to third, Leyritz fired to the plate for the force on Fletcher, and there was one out. Cary then struck out third baseman Robin Ventura swinging, Next up was left fielder Ivan Calderon, whose base hit to left bright home Johnson and Guillen and put the Chisox up 2-1. Designated hitter Ron Kittle followed by clubbing Cary's two-ball pitch over the right center field fence to make it 5-1 Chicago.

Deion doubled off the wall in right with one out in the Yankee fifth but had to hold while Espinoza struck out swinging. Tolleson walked to put two men on, but Kelly's shallow fly to Johnson in shallow center ended the inning.

Fisk drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth and moved to third on Martinez's double down the right field line. Fletcher flew to Kelly in shallow left center for the second out, but Johnson stroked a base hit to right. Fisk trudged home to make it 6-1 White Sox, but Barfield's throw to the plate was in time to nail Martinez and end the inning.

Deion's next at-bat was in the top of the seventh, when he came up with two men and a runner at first. His fly to deep left center was caught by Johnson at the wall for out number two. "I like the way Deion's been swinging lately." offered Yankees analyst Ken Singleton. "He's getting his hacks, which he wasn't earlier in the year. They just need to start falling for hits."

The Sox added to their leaf in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Dave Eiland. Guillen led off with a lined single to right center. Espinosa bobbled Sosa's grounder to short, and two men were on. Eiland got Ventura to ground into a 3-6-3 double play, with Guillen moving to third. Calderon hit one right back to Eiland, who fielded the ball cleanly but overthrew Mattingly at first as Guillen scored the seventh Chicago run.

The Yanks scored a run off of a tiring McDowell in the top of the eighth. With one out, Kelly lined a single to left. After Leyritz struck out, Mattingly grounded one to third. Ventura made the stop, but his throw on the run bounced off of Martinez's glove for an error. Hall's base hit to right center scored Kelly with the second New York run.

Barfield closed out the scoring with a home run to deep right center leading off the top of the ninth against reliever Donn Pall. Deion followed Barfield to the plate, and his wicked liner was gloved by Guillen for out number one.

Final totals: White Sox 7-10-1, Yankees 3-7-2.

W- McDowell (5-4)
L- Cary (5-3)

HR- NYY: Barfield (26)
CWS: Kittle (16; also homered in real-life game)

In real life, Kittle's homer in the sixth provided the game's only run, McDowell combined with relievers Barry Jones and Bobby Thigpen on a five-hit shutout, with Thigpen earning the save. He loses the save here, which leaves him with fifty-six for the season.

Deion's stats: .161 batting average (24 for 149), four home runs, eleven RBIs.

Both teams' records remain the same.

Next: Game 2 of the series on Saturday, June 30.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Comiskey Park on Saturday, June 30 for the second game of the series between the Yankees and the White Sox, Deion is in left field and will be batting cleanup:

In the top of the first, Deion came up with runners at first and third after Sax drew a one-out walk and Mattingly singled to right, Facing Sox starter Melido Perez, Deion hit a high line drive that was gloved by Fletcher for out number two. Nokes' popup was gloved by first baseman Kittle to end the inning,

The Sox got on the scoreboard with a three-run first. Ventura bashed a one out triple into the left center power alley. Calderon followed up with a one-out double off the wall in left center that brought Ventura home and gave the Sox a 1-0 lead. He then stole third. Designated hitter Dan Pasqua blistered a line drive into left center for a base hit to score Calderon and make it 2-0, LaPoint struck out Kittle for a much-needed second out, but center fielder Dave Gallagher lofted a fly ball to right center that dropped for a base hit, Pasqua came home, and the Sox led 3-0,

The home squad added three more in the second. Sosa singled to left center with one out, stole second, and scored on Ventura's lined single to left. After Calderon went down swinging, Pasqua smashed a hanging LaPoint curveball into the right field stands to increase the Chicago lead to 6-0.

Deion ended a one-two-three top of the third by striking out swinging. In the fifth, Kelly led off with a base hit to right center and moved to third thanks to consecutive groundouts by Sax and Mattingly, but Deion once again struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh against reliever Jerry Kutzler. Sax banged a triple off the top of the left field wall with one out and scored on Mattingly's RBI grounder to second. Deion followed with a single up the middle, which ended Kutzler's day. Pall caught Nokes looking to retire the side.

The Sox got that run back in the bottom of the seventh, With one out against Eiland, Pasqua tripled into the right field corner. Kittle bounced to short for out number two, but Fisk cracked a double off the wall in left to score Pasqua with the seventh Chicago run.

Deion had one last at-bat in the top of the ninth against Sox reliever Wayne Edwards. With one out and Sax at first on a fielder's choice, Deion hit a checked-swing roller to first, then turned on the speed to beat Kittle to the bag for an infield single. But Nokes struck out swinging to end the game.

Final totals: White Sox 7-12-0, Yankees 1-9-0.

W- Perez (7-6)
L- LaPoint (4-7)

HR- CWS: Pasqua (14)

In real life, the Yankees won 10-7 behind two homers and four RBI's from Leyritz, Kelly also homered for the Yankees, and Hall had three hits. Sosa homered for the White Sox, who got three hits apiece from Ventura and Fletcher. Kelly's lost homer leaves him with fourteen for the moment, while taking two homers from Leyritz leaves him with three. Sosa is down to fourteen for the year after losing his dinger.

Deion's stats: .169 average (26 for 154), four home runs, eleven RBIs.

Here's how the final standings in the American League have changed through June 30, In the East:

Red Sox: 88-74
Blue Jays: 85-77- 3 GB
Tigers: 80-82- 8 GB
Indians: 77-85- 11 GB
Orioles: 76-85- 11.5 GB
Brewers: 74-88- 14 GB
Yankees: 66-96- 22 GB

In the West:

Athletics: 103-59
White Sox: 95-67- 8 GB
Rangers: 83-79- 20 GB
Angels: 80-82- 23 GB
Mariners: 77-85- 26 GB
Royals: 75-86- 27.5 GB
Twins: 74-88- 29 GB

Next: The series finale between the Yankees and the White Sox. The real-life game saw the losing pitcher throw a no-hitter. We'll see if the sim can top it,

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Comiskey Park in Chicago for the third and final game of the series on Sunday, July 1. Deion is in left field and will bat sixth,

The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the first, Kelly led off with a double to right, and Sax beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single, After Mattingly flew to shallow right center for out number one, Balboni uncorked a fly ball to the warning track in center. Johnson made the catch at the wall, but Kelly trotted home to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Calderon drew a two-out walk against Yankees starter Andy Hawkins. Pasqua followed with a double to center, scoring Calderon to tie the game at one, Kittle's grounder to short ended the inning.

Deion led off the top of the second with a fly ball to right. Sosa made a diving try at the ball, and it bounced into and out of his glove for an error. Blowers struck out for the first out, but Geren lined a base hit up the middle to put runners at the corners. Espinoza's fly to deep left center was run down by Johnson in the power alley for the second out. Deion scored, and the Yankees took a 2-1 lead. Kelly was next, and he hit a bouncer to short, Guillen's throw to first got past Kittle, and the Yankees had two men on, Sax followed with a lined single to left center to score Geren and put the visitors 3-1.

Deion ended the top of the third with a line drive right into the chest of Kittle.

The Yanks added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Sax was hit in the knee by a pitch to start things off. After Mattingly and Balboni struck out, Barfield smacked a double into the right center power alley to bring Sax home and increase the New York lead to 4-1. Deion's comebacker to Sox starting pitcher Greg Hibbard ended the inning.

The Sox scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to draw within one. Ventura lined a leadoff single up the middle, After Calderon's liner was caught by Espinoza for out number one, Pasqua walked on five pitches, Kittle went down swinging for the second out, but Fisk (batting for Karkovice) walked to load the bases. Fletcher followed with a base hit to right that scored Ventura with the second Chicago run, Sosa was next, and he lashed a base hir to left to score Pasqua and trim the Yankee lead to 4-3. Guillen's fly to right ended the inning with the bases still loaded,

The Yanks added a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Barfield drove the first pitch of the inning into the stands in left center for a home run to make it 5-3. Deion followed by beating out a bouncer to short for an infield single, After he stole second. Hibbard struck out Blowers, but Geren followed with a base hit up the middle o score Deion, and it was 6-3 New York. Pall came out of the bullpen and got Espinoza to bounce into an inning-ending double play,

The visitors added a run in the top of the ninth off of Pall. Kelly lined a leadoff single up the middle, then stole second after Sax struck out, Mattingly followed with a double off the wall in right center to score Kelly with the seventh Yankee run. Balboni bounced to short for the second out, and Balboni's grounder to second ended the inning,

The Sox crept a run closer in the last of the ninth. Johnson led off with a base hit to right against reliever Greg Cadaret, who then retired Ventura on a liner to short and caught Calderon looking. But Pasqua walked on a 3-2 pitch, and with home run threat Kittle coming up, Yankee manager Stump Merrill called on his closer, Righetti, Kittle managed a single to left that scored Johnson to make it 7-4, but Fisk went down swinging to end the game.

Final totals: Yankees 7-12-1, White Sox 4-10-2.

W- Hawkins (2-4)
S- Righetti (17)
L- Hibbard (6-5)

HR= NYY- Barfield (27)

Deion's stats for the year: .171 average (27 for 158), four home runs, eleven RBIs.

In real life. Hawkins pitched a no-hitter in a losing cause, as Leyritz, Blowers, and Barfield all committed errors in the eighth inning that combined with a pair of walks to produce four Chicago runs. Meanwhile, Hibbard combined with winning pitcher Barry Jones and Scott Radinsky to shut out the Yanks on four hits and no walks. Final score: White Sox 4, Yankees 0.

Both teams are back to their original records; the Yankees are 67-95, while the White Sox are 94-68.

The Yankees moved on to Kansas City for a three-game series against the Royals. Deion sat out the first two games with a slightly pulled calf muscle, and the Yanks lost twice, 11-5 on Monday, July 2 and 6-1 on Tuesday, July 3. George Brett had four hits in the first game, and four Royals pitchers combined to hold the Yanks to four hits in the second game. Deion was deemed ready to go for the third game of the series on Wednesday, July 4.

Next: The Yanks face the Royals on the Fourth of July.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Royals Stadium in Kansas City on July 4 for the third game of the series between the Yankees and the Royals. Deion is in center field and will lead off.

Deion lined the first pitch of the game right at Royals first baseman George Brett for the first out.

The Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Bill Pecota drew a one-out walk. After Yankees starter Chuck Cary struck out Brett for out number two, center fielder Bo Jackson drilled a 1-2 pitch deep into the center field stands for a two-run homer that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead.

The home squad added to its lead in the second. Right fielder Pat Tabler blooped a leadoff single to left and moved to third when catcher Mike Macfarlane lined a single to left center. Second baseman Frank White forced Macfarlane for out number two, which allowed Tabler to come home and make it 3-0 Royals, Third baseman Jevin Seitzer popped out to Sax at second to end the inning.

Deion batted again in the third and flew to Jackson in right center field for the second out.

The Royals added to their lead again in the fifth, White led off with a fly ball to left that was bobbled and dropped by Hall, allowing White to reach second base. Seitzer grounded to third for out number one, but Pecota stroked a base hit to left that scored White and put the Royals up 4-0, Brett and Jackson each struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees got on the board for the first time in the top of the sixth. Deion lined a base hit to right center with one out, moved to third on Sax's base hit to left center, and scored the first New York run on Nokes' single to right. Sax moved to third on the play, but Hall grounded into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play,

The visitors scored twice more in the top of the seventh, Barfield started the inning by getting on base when Pecota couldn't find the handle on his grounder, Leyritz flew to shallow right for the first out, but Maas singled to right center and Geren singled to left, which loaded the bases. Merrill sent Balboni up to bat for Espinoza. but Saberhagen struck him out on three straight swings for out number two, Deion was next, and he came through with a lined single to right, Barfield and Maas both scored, and the Yankees were within a run at 4-3. Sax beat out a grounder to short for an infield hit to reload the bases, and that was it for Saberhagen, Steve Farr came out of the bullpen to strike Nokes out swinging and retire the side with the bases still loaded.

Deion batted for the last time in the top of the ninth against Royals closer Jeff Montgomery with one out and Geren at first after a single to left, He struck out swinging, and Sax's grounder to Brett at first ended the game.

Final totals: Royals 4-7-1, Yankees 3-11-1,

W- Saberhagen (6-9)
S- Montgomery (25)
L- Cary (5-4)

HR- KC: Jackson (29)

Deion's stats for the year: ,178 average (29 for 163), four home runs, thirteen RBIs

George Brett won the American League batting title in 1990 with a .329 average. He was two for five in the real-life game, one for four in the sim. One less hit in one less at-bat equals 178 hits in 543 at-bats, an average of .328. He's still three points ahead of Rickey Henderson for the batting title.

In real life, the Royals won 13-6, thanks mainly to a seven-run seventh, The Royals hit four home runs; two of them came from White, while the others came from Jackson and Seitzer. Maas and Geren homered for the Yankees. Steve Crawford picked up the win in relief, while Lee Guetterman suffered the loss.

In the lost home runs department, Maas loses his first major league home run, at least for the moment. Geren loses another homer, which leaves him with seven. Seitzer loses one, which leaves him with three. Jackson keeps his, but White loses his pair, which leaves him with none.

The teams' final records remain the same: The Royals are 75-86, while the Yankees are 66-96.

Next: The Yankees welcome the Twins for a doubleheader on July 6.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Yankee Stadium for the first game of the July 6 doubleheader between the Yankees and the Twins, Deion will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh.

The Twins scored first in the top of the second against Hawkins. Catcher Brian Harper led off with a triple into the left field corner. Right fielder Gene Larkin's base hit to right brought him home, and the Twins led 1-0.

Deion's first at-bat came in the bottom of the second, and he flew to Larkin in shallow right for out number two,

The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Balboni led off with a home run deep into the left field stands off of Twins starter Allan Anderson, Later in the inning, Deion lined a two-out double off the wall in right, but he was stranded at second when Geren flew to left to end the inning.

Deion had a chance to help his team take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Barfield led off with a bloop single to left. Balboni's single up the middle put two men on. After Leyritz took a called third strike for the first out, Blowers' grounder to short moved the runners up. But Deion went down swinging to end the inning with runners still at second and third.

The Twins took the lead in the eighth against reliever Lee Guetterman. Third baseman Gary Gaetti led off with a single to left center. Harper's base hit to left put runners at the corners, and Larkin's sharp single to right scored Gaetti to put the Twins in front 2-1. Harper tried to go to third on the play but was thrown out by Barfield.

Deion came up with two out in the bottom of the ninth against Twins closer Rick Aguilera and flew to Puckett in left center to end the game.

Final totals: Twins 2-9-0, Yankees 1-7-0.

W- Anderson (8-18)
S- Aguilera (21; also saved real-life game)
L- Hawkins (2-5), also lost real-life game)

HR- NYY: Balboni (19)

Deion's stats: .180 average (30 for 167). four home runs, thirteen RBIs.

in real life, the Twins won 2-0 in twelve innings, Harper and Larkin each had RBI singles in the too of the twelfth. Anderson, Juan Berenguer, and Aguilera combined on an eleven-hit shutout. Meanwhile, Hawkins pitched an incredible game in a losing cause, holding the Twins to two runs on six hits in eleven and two-thirds innings just five days after his no-hitter.

Both teams' records are the same. The Twins are 74-88, while the Yankees are 66-96.

Next: Game 2 of the July 6 doubleheader.

Thoughts?
 
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Garrett Garlits

We're at Yankee Stadium for Game 2 of the doubleheader on Friday, July 6. Deion is in left field and will bat cleanup.

The Yankees scored first, as Kelly led off the bottom of the first by hammering a 1-1 curveball from Twins starter Roy Smith into the right center field bleachers. Deion came up with two outs and flew to Carmen Castillo in right field to end the inning,

The Twins took the lead with two runs in the top of the third. Catcher Junior Ortiz lined a leadoff single to right center, stole second, and moved to third when Leyritz (who was catching for just the second time in his major league career) threw the ball into center field. Shortstop Greg Gagne grounded to third for the first out as Ortiz held at third. Second baseman Al Newman followed with a bloop that fell in and rolled partway down the left field line for a double. Ortiz scored easily, and we were tied at one. Left fielder Shane Mack followed that up with a single to right that brought Newman home and put the Twins up 2-1,

Deion's next at-bat came with a runner on in the bottom of the fourth after designated hitter Nokes walked. He struck out swinging for the second out of the inning.

The Twins scored the final two runs of the game in the top of the fifth, Mack beat out a bouncer to short for an infield single. Puckett them drove Yankee starter Dave Lapoint's 2-1 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer and a 4-1 Minnesota lead.

Deion missed a big chance to be a hero in the bottom of the sixth. Kelly blooped a single to left, then stole second. Sax walked to put two men on, and Nokes' bouncer to third moved the runners up with two out. Deion got underneath Smith's first pitch and lifted a routine fly ball to center that was caught by Puckett to end the inning with runners still at second and third,

Deion came up one last time in the bottom of the ninth with one out and Sax at first after a leadoff single. Facing Aguikera, he hit a roller to first that was gloved by Kent Hrbek, who threw to shortstop Greg Gagne for the force on Sax, Barfield struck out swinging to end the game.

Final totals: Twins 4-13-0, Yankees 1-3-1.

W- Smith (5-6)
S-Aguilera (22)
L- Lapoint (4-8)

HR- MIN: Puckett (13)
NYY: Kelly (16)

Deion's average: .175 average (30 for 171), four home runs, thirteen RBIs.

In real life, the Yankees won Game 2 5-3. Kelly and Maas each had two hits. and LaPoint gave up three runs, but just five hits in five innings to get the win. Righetti stranded two runners in the ninth and recorded the save. Smith took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs in four innings. Gaetti had three hits and drove in a run in a losing cause,

The Twins are now 75-87, just a half-game behind the Royals for sixth place in the AL West. The Yankees are now 65-97. tied with the Braves for the worst record in Major League Baseball.

Deion had the day off on Saturday, July 7 as the Yankees edged the Twins 5-4 in twelve innings on Kelly's walkoff single. He was back in the lineup the following day as the Yanks and Twins closed out the first half of the season,

Next: The Yankees face the Twins on Sunday, July 8.

Thoughts?
 
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