Pittsburgh (AP) - Champion. Quitter. And now carpetbagger. Prairie Chickens owner/GM examinerebb can be called all of these things and more in NABCL. After building one of the most successful franchises in league history, he abruptly sold the team to jose can u c and drifted off into obscurity. Then donaldkey put his talented Seattle franchise up for sale and examinerebb came back with a vengeance, not only purchasing the team, but relocating them to Pittsburgh and budgeting for the highest player payroll in the league. When asked about his return to the league, examinerebb replied "I'm extremely happy to be back among all of these great owners, but sad it came only due to the loss of donaldkey, who did a very nice job of putting solid talent together. We inherited a fair amount of expensive, skilled players, which dictated that we try to make a run, but also a lot of holes, which meant we had to be aggressive in free agency. The result was a player payroll higher than any I've personally fielded before, and we still haven't been able to address the top of the rotation. We're hoping to compete for the division title, but we're assuming nothing at this point." The fans of Washington state are clearly not fans of examinerebb's plan, as it involved robbing them of their last representative in NABCL (after the loss of the Tacoma Terrible Twos some seasons back). The obvious answer for the move was a lack of fan support but, when asked if that could be attributed to the franchise never making a playoff appearance, examinerebb said "I can't comment intelligently on the circumstances involving the team prior to my arrival. All I can tell you is that we're committed to being a perennial playoff contender, the city of Pittsburgh is excited to have us, and we're excited to be here. We've put together a top-tier defense, very nice offense, and solid pitching." Let's take some to assess whether they're living up to their "playoff-caliber" commitment this season.
THE OFFENSE
Julio Valdivia (LF) - Not your prototypical leadoff hitter in terms of speed, Julio's job is to utilize his 90+ contact and splits to put the ball in play and let the park effects take over.
Bronson Grey (2B) - High contact, above-average splits and batting eye, and an amazing ability to bunt the ball wherever he desires make Grey the easy choice for the two-hole.
Guillermo Ortiz (1B) - Uber-talented but injury prone, Ortiz' task is to stay healthy enough to produce the kind of numbers his overwhelming offensive ratings say that he should.
Bum Stocker (3B) - A mainstay of the franchise for many seasons now, Stocker is expected to drive in runs this season. He should have plenty of opportunities, with the three hitters ahead of him.
Carlos Colon/Rafael Samuel (C) - Taking a page out of his Jacksonville playbook, examinerebb put together a platoon of catchers - one a beast on offense, the other a defensive stud. It remains to be seen whether or not it plays out here as well as it did in Florida.
Paul Martin (RF) - Insanely high splits and excellent defense earned Martin a spot in the lineup. Another player expected to benefit greatly from the slap-friendly confines of PNC Park.
Midre Martin (CF) - When searching the free-agent market for a center fielder, examinerebb needed look no further than his first ever big international signing, Midre Martin. A shortstop all of his career, look for Martin to lead all center fielders in assists this season while making solid contributions at the plate.
Chad Webster/Glen Duvall (SS) - This platoon is expected only to play solid defense. Anything coming offensively is nice bonus.
THE BENCH
Alex Randolph looks to contribute both defensively and offensively, spelling the corner outfielders when they need a rest.
Donaldo Lee may be the most talented bench player in the league. Can play seven positions in a pinch, and more than hold his own at the dish as well.
THE ROTATION
Kevin Martin is thrust into the number one starter role, though he's truthfully more a middle-of-the rotation pitcher. The Chickens are looking for him to simply keep games close enough for the offense to win ( a recurring theme, when it comes to the pitching staff).
Tony Zurbaran, another former Jackal, sits in the same position he did for many years in Jacksonville. Solid but streaky, Pittsburgh hopes for an "up" season from him this year.
Victor Silva is solid but unspectacular as, as the only lefty in the rotation, that may be a recipe for disaster.
Delanor Hocking is a right handed Silva. Take that as you will.
Terrence Roberts is your consummate "million dollar arm, ten cent head" guy. All the tools, but absolutely no control.
THE BULLPEN
Again, solid but unspectacular. The only compelling storyline here will be Bob Shaw's pursuit of 400 career saves.
THE OUTLOOK
The Prairie Chickens have a puncher's chance at the playoffs, but the lack of top end starting pitching means any appearance in the postseason will probably be short lived. Unless, of course, that offense catches fire at the right time...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Rebuilding in Philadelphia
The highlight of season 13 for the Philadelphia Dead Milkmen was salvaging a .500 record, and season 14 looks to be similarly uneventful. Plagued last year by an underperforming offense that scored only 776 runs—down 135 from S12—and an often-ineffective rotation and bullpen, Philly looks to take a step back and try to rebuild in S14.
Offense
Philadelphia has traditionally fielded a powerful lineup, and last season should be an aberration—the Milkmen did, after all, record a solid .776 team OPS and hit 242 home runs last year. The Dead Milkmen lineup is a young one, with only two regulars over 30. Coaches have targeted some more defensively-oriented players this season in hopes of balancing out the less mobile sluggers on the team.
1. Newly acquired corner outfielder Santos Guerrero will play left field and lead off for the Dead Milkmen. Coming over from Scranton in a trade for closer Earl Lincoln, Guerrero had already been traded three times before coming to Philadelphia. He has a good power–speed game, hitting 40 home runs and stealing 26 bases last season at AAA (.262/.349/.580/127 RBI/118 RS), and his skill set looks like a good fit for Citizens Bank Park.
2. Perennial All-Star Walker Wilkins mans right field and hits second for Philadelphia. S13 was something of an off-year for Wilkins (.328/.408/.556/96 RBI/88 RS), but only by his high standards. The lack of a real lead-off man hurt his RBI chances last season, one of the reasons Philadelphia acquired Guerrero. The Milkmen extended the face of the franchise last year through S18.
3. Hughie Phillips will move back to first base for S14 and hit third. After steady improvement in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, Phillips declined sharply last year and posted notably poor numbers (.235/.320/.398/61 RBI/86 RS), also committing 11 errors in left field. Philadelphia hopes to see him rebound to the 30-HR player he was two years ago, and hitting third in this lineup should give him many RBI chances.
4. The cleanup spot will be occupied by Philadelphia's powerful designated hitter platoon: lefty Charles Ransom and right-hander Kevin Gao. Like Phillips, Ransom had an off-year in S13 (.238/.327/.496/71 RBI/64 RS). His exceptional power, however, makes him a good bet to improve on that line. Waiver wire claim Gao posted excellent numbers last season (.329/.400/.717/35 RBI/30 RS) in only 49 games and should be a great complement for Ransom.
5. Consistent third-baseman Jacob Dunn hits fifth for the Milkmen. While Dunn's performance in S13 (.276/.331/.492/97 RBI/102 RS) didn't earn him a third consecutive All-Star & Silver Slugger nod, he did continue to post the solid offense and good defense that Philadelphia relies on him for.
6. Third-year player Billy Ratliff will play second base and hit sixth for Philadelphia. Like several other Milkmen, Ratliff had a disappointing S13 (.245/.286/.498/91 RBI/74 RS), although he once again showed good power for a middle infielder with 37 home runs. Ratliff looks like a good bet to return to his rookie form.
7. Shortstop Karim James, the oldest Milkman, will hit seventh. James signed a two-year deal in S13 but put up a severely disappointing offensive performance (.227/.309/.271/39 RBI/49 RS) while committing an unexpected 29 errors. Jones still has excellent range for a shortstop, and Philadelphia is only hoping for moderate offensive production from him this year.
8. Philadelphia's catcher platoon of rookie right-hander Brian Glynn and free agent veteran lefty Raymond McEwing will hit eighth. The Milkmen switched gears from longtime catcher Sean Thomson, a reliable .800-OPS hitter but average at best defensively, to this new defense-first platoon. Neither player is expected to contribute much at the plate, but behind the plate they should be much more valuable.
9. Mobile centerfielder Greg Biddle winds up Philadelphia's lineup. Biddle was ineffective as the leadoff hitter last year (.257/.329/.269/32 RBI/77 RS), but the Milkmen value his excellent range in center field. Hitting ninth makes his shortcomings at the plate a little less painful while still giving him a chance to make use of his good baserunning skills.
Philadelphia's other bench players to start the season consist of corner infielder/outfielder Trenidad Estrada, who hit well in AAA and in a major league cup of coffee last year; rookie CF/2B Pokey Mills, a useful utility player; and first baseman and Rule 5 pick Mike Benjamin, a switch-hitter with excellent power who could probably hit 50+ HR in cozy Citizens Bank.
Pitching Philadelphia's pitching was surprisingly good for much of last season. The team's 1.38 WHIP was tied for third in the AL, and the 4.65 team ERA—while only a few ticks above average—was the lowest it's been since the Milkmen's legendary 101-win S7 campaign. S13 Fireman of the Year Earl Lincoln (60 IP, 8-3, 36/41 SV, 1.17 WHIP, 2.40 ERA) left for Scranton in a trade, leaving Philadelphia without a clear closer for the first time since S9.
#1: Workhorse lefty Haywood Jodie (219, 12-12, 1.35, 5.22) will take the mound on opening day once more for the Dead Milkmen. Jodie's an unexceptional pitcher but a reliable one; he took over longtime ace Rafael Vidal's innings pitched franchise record this past season with more than 1,600. Jodie is still only 33 and has another season on his contract before free agency.
#2: Veteran right-hander Miguel Polanco (153, 11-9, 1.41, 4.24) came to Philadelphia in S12 to provide the team with a true ace and mostly delivered, winning 17 games with a 3.86 ERA. Polanco missed several starts last season with a shoulder injury and at 37, won't be quite as sharp or as durable this season as in the past, but should still have another good year in him.
#3: The Milkmen signed Julio Bonilla (193, 5-18, 1.51, 5.58) last season in an attempt to bring in another quality free agent starter, but his S13 campaign was a major disappointment. Bonilla, still signed through next year, has the stuff to be a good midrotation starter, but definitely needs to improve this year.
#4: "Sweet Lou" Durham (190, 10-11, 1.35, 4.26) seems to alternate between solid seasons and disastrous ones, so there's some concern over the fact that he pitched fairly well last year. The right-hander, in year two of a 3-year deal, has the fourth spot in the rotation for the time being with a solid spring training performance.
#5: Southpaw Candy Titan looked to be in the rotation for good after S11, but a terrible performance the next year had him back in AAA for S13. In a brief call-up, he pitched well in some aspects (25 K, 9 BB in 30 IP) and atrociously in others (6 HR). Philadelphia will give the 27 year old another shot—perhaps his last—this year.
Long relief: Del Valentin had a breakout performance last year (174, 12-11, 1.33, 4.33); while the right-hander certainly has the stuff for the rotation, his stamina keeps him from going deep into games. While he'll be starting the year in relief, he could certainly step up if any of the starters falter. Rob Boone (46, 1.52, 6.26) hasn't performed well given a late-inning relief role, and will move to lower leverage innings. Longtime minor leaguer Joel Monahan will also start the season in the bullpen.
Setup relief: Right-hander Robinson Jennings (93, 1.28, 3.57) earned a 2-year extension on what was initially a 1-year deal after pitching very well in the late innings last season. The 32 year old vet looks to have plenty left in the tank. He'll be paired with rookies Lou Beimel, another righty, and Victor Canseco, a left-hander. Canseco, who was perfect on saves for Philadelphia's AAA team last season, will get a shot at closing out games early this year. Depending on his performance and how competitive the Milkmen are in the opening weeks, he could take on the closing role full-time or become more of a situational lefty for the late innings.
Prospects
Philadelphia's minors aren't as strong as they've been in recent years, so this seasons' 2 picks in the first 43, while not a real windfall, will be important. Without a strong draft class in recent seasons, there only a few quality players who will graduate to Philadelphia in the coming years.
1. RF Victor Lynch. Good power and batting eye and a great arm, but blocked by future Hall of Famer Walker Wilkins for at least several more years.
2. CF Shane Spivey. Solid all around at the plate and in the field, and ready for the majors now.
3. RP Trey D'Amico. Not quite closer material, but a quality late-inning reliever.
4. SP Armando Roque. Poor control, but excellent velocity and two great pitches.
5. 3B Juan Ramirez. Defensive specialist, good on the bases, questionable bat.
Outlook
With Fargo in the division, even a miracle season for Philadelphia would end in a low wild-card seed and a likely first round exit; the far more more likely outcome is 80–85 wins. The quality of the S14 draft class is far more important to the Milkmen in the long term.
Offense
Philadelphia has traditionally fielded a powerful lineup, and last season should be an aberration—the Milkmen did, after all, record a solid .776 team OPS and hit 242 home runs last year. The Dead Milkmen lineup is a young one, with only two regulars over 30. Coaches have targeted some more defensively-oriented players this season in hopes of balancing out the less mobile sluggers on the team.
1. Newly acquired corner outfielder Santos Guerrero will play left field and lead off for the Dead Milkmen. Coming over from Scranton in a trade for closer Earl Lincoln, Guerrero had already been traded three times before coming to Philadelphia. He has a good power–speed game, hitting 40 home runs and stealing 26 bases last season at AAA (.262/.349/.580/127 RBI/118 RS), and his skill set looks like a good fit for Citizens Bank Park.
2. Perennial All-Star Walker Wilkins mans right field and hits second for Philadelphia. S13 was something of an off-year for Wilkins (.328/.408/.556/96 RBI/88 RS), but only by his high standards. The lack of a real lead-off man hurt his RBI chances last season, one of the reasons Philadelphia acquired Guerrero. The Milkmen extended the face of the franchise last year through S18.
3. Hughie Phillips will move back to first base for S14 and hit third. After steady improvement in his rookie and sophomore campaigns, Phillips declined sharply last year and posted notably poor numbers (.235/.320/.398/61 RBI/86 RS), also committing 11 errors in left field. Philadelphia hopes to see him rebound to the 30-HR player he was two years ago, and hitting third in this lineup should give him many RBI chances.
4. The cleanup spot will be occupied by Philadelphia's powerful designated hitter platoon: lefty Charles Ransom and right-hander Kevin Gao. Like Phillips, Ransom had an off-year in S13 (.238/.327/.496/71 RBI/64 RS). His exceptional power, however, makes him a good bet to improve on that line. Waiver wire claim Gao posted excellent numbers last season (.329/.400/.717/35 RBI/30 RS) in only 49 games and should be a great complement for Ransom.
5. Consistent third-baseman Jacob Dunn hits fifth for the Milkmen. While Dunn's performance in S13 (.276/.331/.492/97 RBI/102 RS) didn't earn him a third consecutive All-Star & Silver Slugger nod, he did continue to post the solid offense and good defense that Philadelphia relies on him for.
6. Third-year player Billy Ratliff will play second base and hit sixth for Philadelphia. Like several other Milkmen, Ratliff had a disappointing S13 (.245/.286/.498/91 RBI/74 RS), although he once again showed good power for a middle infielder with 37 home runs. Ratliff looks like a good bet to return to his rookie form.
7. Shortstop Karim James, the oldest Milkman, will hit seventh. James signed a two-year deal in S13 but put up a severely disappointing offensive performance (.227/.309/.271/39 RBI/49 RS) while committing an unexpected 29 errors. Jones still has excellent range for a shortstop, and Philadelphia is only hoping for moderate offensive production from him this year.
8. Philadelphia's catcher platoon of rookie right-hander Brian Glynn and free agent veteran lefty Raymond McEwing will hit eighth. The Milkmen switched gears from longtime catcher Sean Thomson, a reliable .800-OPS hitter but average at best defensively, to this new defense-first platoon. Neither player is expected to contribute much at the plate, but behind the plate they should be much more valuable.
9. Mobile centerfielder Greg Biddle winds up Philadelphia's lineup. Biddle was ineffective as the leadoff hitter last year (.257/.329/.269/32 RBI/77 RS), but the Milkmen value his excellent range in center field. Hitting ninth makes his shortcomings at the plate a little less painful while still giving him a chance to make use of his good baserunning skills.
Philadelphia's other bench players to start the season consist of corner infielder/outfielder Trenidad Estrada, who hit well in AAA and in a major league cup of coffee last year; rookie CF/2B Pokey Mills, a useful utility player; and first baseman and Rule 5 pick Mike Benjamin, a switch-hitter with excellent power who could probably hit 50+ HR in cozy Citizens Bank.
Pitching Philadelphia's pitching was surprisingly good for much of last season. The team's 1.38 WHIP was tied for third in the AL, and the 4.65 team ERA—while only a few ticks above average—was the lowest it's been since the Milkmen's legendary 101-win S7 campaign. S13 Fireman of the Year Earl Lincoln (60 IP, 8-3, 36/41 SV, 1.17 WHIP, 2.40 ERA) left for Scranton in a trade, leaving Philadelphia without a clear closer for the first time since S9.
#1: Workhorse lefty Haywood Jodie (219, 12-12, 1.35, 5.22) will take the mound on opening day once more for the Dead Milkmen. Jodie's an unexceptional pitcher but a reliable one; he took over longtime ace Rafael Vidal's innings pitched franchise record this past season with more than 1,600. Jodie is still only 33 and has another season on his contract before free agency.
#2: Veteran right-hander Miguel Polanco (153, 11-9, 1.41, 4.24) came to Philadelphia in S12 to provide the team with a true ace and mostly delivered, winning 17 games with a 3.86 ERA. Polanco missed several starts last season with a shoulder injury and at 37, won't be quite as sharp or as durable this season as in the past, but should still have another good year in him.
#3: The Milkmen signed Julio Bonilla (193, 5-18, 1.51, 5.58) last season in an attempt to bring in another quality free agent starter, but his S13 campaign was a major disappointment. Bonilla, still signed through next year, has the stuff to be a good midrotation starter, but definitely needs to improve this year.
#4: "Sweet Lou" Durham (190, 10-11, 1.35, 4.26) seems to alternate between solid seasons and disastrous ones, so there's some concern over the fact that he pitched fairly well last year. The right-hander, in year two of a 3-year deal, has the fourth spot in the rotation for the time being with a solid spring training performance.
#5: Southpaw Candy Titan looked to be in the rotation for good after S11, but a terrible performance the next year had him back in AAA for S13. In a brief call-up, he pitched well in some aspects (25 K, 9 BB in 30 IP) and atrociously in others (6 HR). Philadelphia will give the 27 year old another shot—perhaps his last—this year.
Long relief: Del Valentin had a breakout performance last year (174, 12-11, 1.33, 4.33); while the right-hander certainly has the stuff for the rotation, his stamina keeps him from going deep into games. While he'll be starting the year in relief, he could certainly step up if any of the starters falter. Rob Boone (46, 1.52, 6.26) hasn't performed well given a late-inning relief role, and will move to lower leverage innings. Longtime minor leaguer Joel Monahan will also start the season in the bullpen.
Setup relief: Right-hander Robinson Jennings (93, 1.28, 3.57) earned a 2-year extension on what was initially a 1-year deal after pitching very well in the late innings last season. The 32 year old vet looks to have plenty left in the tank. He'll be paired with rookies Lou Beimel, another righty, and Victor Canseco, a left-hander. Canseco, who was perfect on saves for Philadelphia's AAA team last season, will get a shot at closing out games early this year. Depending on his performance and how competitive the Milkmen are in the opening weeks, he could take on the closing role full-time or become more of a situational lefty for the late innings.
Prospects
Philadelphia's minors aren't as strong as they've been in recent years, so this seasons' 2 picks in the first 43, while not a real windfall, will be important. Without a strong draft class in recent seasons, there only a few quality players who will graduate to Philadelphia in the coming years.
1. RF Victor Lynch. Good power and batting eye and a great arm, but blocked by future Hall of Famer Walker Wilkins for at least several more years.
2. CF Shane Spivey. Solid all around at the plate and in the field, and ready for the majors now.
3. RP Trey D'Amico. Not quite closer material, but a quality late-inning reliever.
4. SP Armando Roque. Poor control, but excellent velocity and two great pitches.
5. 3B Juan Ramirez. Defensive specialist, good on the bases, questionable bat.
Outlook
With Fargo in the division, even a miracle season for Philadelphia would end in a low wild-card seed and a likely first round exit; the far more more likely outcome is 80–85 wins. The quality of the S14 draft class is far more important to the Milkmen in the long term.
Fargo Roughriders Season 14 Preview
The Roughriders began last season as the two time defending NABCL champs. A 104 win regular season, 4th straight division title, and first round bye fueled hopes of a three-peat on the prairie; but a red-hot Richmond offense and a suddenly shaky starting rotation proved to be too much for the team to overcome. To that end, Fargo went into the offseason looking to solidify the rotation, hoping to make a run at the AL pennant again. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 14 Fargo Roughriders:
Offense
For a franchise that has set the gold standard for offense in the NABCL, it comes as no surprise that Fargo can score. That said, Season 13 was a great year, even by the lofty standards Fargo has set in past seasons. Fargo lead the league in runs scored by a whopping 210 runs, and fell narrowly short of besting the Year 1 juggernaut for most runs scored in team and league history. With no major changes to the core of the offense (the top 10 run producers for the team return), an encore performance does not seem out of the question.
1- LF Brett Siddall (35 years old)- A free agent this offseason, Siddall returned to Fargo, signing a 2 year deal, bringing stability back to the leadoff spot for the team. Although he’s no longer a full time player, Siddall still scored 106 runs in 116 games, with 91 walks and a .298/.418/.480 line. Another similar year would be reasonable to expect.
2- 3B Kurt Lewis (31) - Fargo’s first ever 1st round pick, Lewis continues to be a steady force at the top of the lineup. His first year at 3B went off without a hitch, as Lewis hit .295/.365/.506 with 120 runs scored and 95 RBI. Lewis has only missed scoring 100 runs once in his 7 year career, and should easily eclipse that mark again this season.
3- 2B Mac Gray (28) - Gray has always been a huge injury risk, but when he plays, he might be the best offensive player in the NABCL. Last year was no different, Gray went .326/.409/.704, leading the league in OPS, hitting 51 HR’s, driving in 152 runs, and scoring 105. Gray will continue to get his days off as needed, in hopes of keeping the former MVP in the lineup.
4- DH Rudy Simms (32)- Former MVP Simms rolled into the prime of his career in style, hitting .333/.443/.667, finishing just behind teammate Gray in the OPS rankings, while hitting 44 HR’s, with 133 RBI, 100 walks, and 133 runs scored. Simms is a year older, but primed for another standout year.
5- RF Peter Masato (28) - Masato doesn’t have the batting eye everyone is used to seeing from Fargo offensive players, but he more than makes up for it with his light tower power. He led the team in HR’s (54) and RBI (153) last season, while hitting a respectable .274/.322/.581. Hitting behind Gray and Simms should assure Masato another shot at 150 RBI’s this season.
6- 1B Victor Carrasco (29) - Carrasco languished in AAA for several seasons, waiting for a spot to open up in the ML lineup. With the trade of Larry Flores two seasons ago, Carrasco’s number was called, and he’s done little to disappoint. His .332/.425/.491 line was stellar, and he finished only 5 runs and 11 RBI short of 100 in each category. A slight jump in his power numbers could bring Victor his first All Star appearance in Year 14.
7- C Damaso Montana (32) - Long time Fargo C Max Amaro had his usual fine season, but left via free agency, allowing Fargo to sign Montana to a two year deal. His batting eye will fit right in with this offense, and his defense should be a slight upgrade over Amaro.
8- CF Edgardo Sivilla (27)- Another player who waited an extra year or two for a spot to open, Sivilla came up in the middle of Year 13, and showed his trademark power (27 HR’s in 366 AB’s), and solid glove. An improvement on his .243 batting average in his first full ML season is expected.
9- SS Pasqual Guerrero (26) - SS has been a revolving door for Fargo for its entire existence, and this year will be no different. Rookie Guerrero will get first crack at the job, if his glove is as good as advertised, and he can work a few walks, he should hold onto it with no trouble.
The bench will be filled by emerging 2B/LF Sadie Washington (.320 BA last season backing up both Siddall and Gray), slugging RF Benito Johnson (averaging 30 HR’s in a part time roll the past 3 seasons), C Charlie Douglass (.353 BA in 64 games), and jack of all trades Bernard Parker.
Pitching
With the offense seemingly in good hands, all eyes turn to the pitching staff that is home to a 3 time reigning Cy Young winner, but that also let the team down last season during their aborted playoff run.
After 9 seasons of perpetual mediocrity, at best, from the pitching staff, the Roughriders have become a mainstay in the top 10 league ERA’s for the past 4 seasons. This is due in large part to the signing of Felipe Matos after season 8. Matos had a solid first season, but no one expected him to reel off 3 straight Cy Young awards in his age 39/40/41 seasons. Now 42 and coming off a very mediocre postseason, Matos raised some concerns that he was no longer the shut down ace he has been in past 4 seasons. Desperate to solidify the rotation, Fargo doled out $95 million dollars to secure Alex Schmidt, the top FA SP on the market, clearly showing they were committed to keeping the dynasty rolling for as long as possible.
SP1- Felipe Matos (42) - What more is there to say? Matos has won 3 straight Cy Young awards, started last season 17-0, and ended with 23 wins, 175 K’s, and a 3.20 ERA. He’s clearly got to slow down sometime, but Fargo won’t worry about that until it happens.
SP2- Juan Goya (26) - On a staff without Matos or Lenny Singleton, Goya would be the clear ace. He did not win 20 games for the first time in his career, but his gaudy 18-3 record, team leading 2.99 ERA, and career 58-18 record make him an incredibly solid #2 starter for this squad.
SP3- Alex Schmidt (31) - In any other situation, spending $95 million on a guy who isn’t a true ace would be insanity. But on a team that has a 4-5 year window, and no pitching ready in the minors, getting a guy like Schmidt, who will take the ball 35 times a year and have a shot at 20 wins, might just be worth it.
SP4- Luis Melendez (28) - The ultimate innings eater, Melendez is good for 230+ IP, 15 wins, and several days of rest for the bullpen each year. He’s nothing flashy, but definitely a mainstay in the rotation.
SP5- Frank House (25) - A rookie last year, House will slide up a few slots in the rotation before he’s through. In less than ¾’s of a season; he won 11 games, and flashed glimpses of being overpowering (143K’s in 148 IP).
Closer- Willie Lee (32) - Lee continued to provide All-Star caliber work closing games for Fargo last season. 32 saves, a 3.21 ERA, and a 1.02 WHIP say the 9th inning is safe in Willie’s hands.
Setup- Norm Johnson (28), Victor Martin (28), and Weldon Dodd (25)- Johnson and Martin both were solid in setup rolls last year, and are joined by lefty Dodd from AAA to give Fargo a solid bridge from the rotation to Lee.
Long Relief- Harry Witt (27), Carlos Romero (27), and Larry Howard (28) – Nothing special here, but Witt and Howard each pitched almost 100 innings last year, and Romero comes up from AAA to provide more of the same. If the offense scores as expected, the long relievers will be pitching in a lot of blowout wins, giving the SP’s a break. If this group is called on to be a key to this season, Fargo is in trouble.
Minors
The Fargo system is almost devoid of future ML starting pitching, but a few bright spots remain, several of which will play a role in the next 2-3 years:
1- LF Junior Kwon- One of the top hitting prospects in the minors, he is almost ready, but will need to wait a year or 2 for a spot to open in Fargo.
2- C Brian Takada- The future starting C for the team, he’s a decent game caller, but his real strength is just that, his strength. Takada projects to be a 40 HR hitting C, a rare breed that will fit nicely in Fargo’s lineup.
3- LF Morrie Hall- Hall is a masher with a great eye, and is closer to the majors than Kwon, but doesn’t have the upside.
4- RP Ralph Murray- The closer of the future, he combines a top notch fastball, great splits, and the ability to throw almost daily.
5- RP JR Phillips- If it weren’t for Murray, he’d be the future closer. As it is, he’ll be a great long RP, capable of throwing many high-leverage innings.
6- SP Earle Shaw- The best SP prospect in the system Shaw lacks a little command, but otherwise, has all the earmarks of a solid #4 SP.
7- RP Heath Brown- Nothing flashy, but a future staple of the bullpen.
8- RP Garland Stevens- A lefty version of Heath Brown.
9- RP Wilfredo Castilla- Will double as a spot SP/LR, and has the pitches and splits to be very effective in that role.
10- Brad McRae- Future SS for the team, he’s got a good glove, and enough of a bat to hit 20 HR’s and play every day.
Prognosis
After winning back to back World Series, last season’s disappointing exit in the 2nd round prompted Fargo to spend over $100 million dollars to fill the hole is it’s rotation, at catcher, and to bring back Siddall in LF. The calculated (and expensive) risk was substantial, but it is clear that the time to win in Fargo is now, as all but a handful of Fargo’s stars are in the prime of their careers. If Fargo does not compete for several titles in the next 3-5 seasons, this offseason will go down as a dismal failure. If they are able to return to the Series, this will go down with the Season 9 FA class of Matos, Grainger and Ortiz as one of the best off seasons in league history.
Prediction: 105-57, first place in the AL North, losing a tough 7 game series against Anaheim for the AL title.
Offense
For a franchise that has set the gold standard for offense in the NABCL, it comes as no surprise that Fargo can score. That said, Season 13 was a great year, even by the lofty standards Fargo has set in past seasons. Fargo lead the league in runs scored by a whopping 210 runs, and fell narrowly short of besting the Year 1 juggernaut for most runs scored in team and league history. With no major changes to the core of the offense (the top 10 run producers for the team return), an encore performance does not seem out of the question.
1- LF Brett Siddall (35 years old)- A free agent this offseason, Siddall returned to Fargo, signing a 2 year deal, bringing stability back to the leadoff spot for the team. Although he’s no longer a full time player, Siddall still scored 106 runs in 116 games, with 91 walks and a .298/.418/.480 line. Another similar year would be reasonable to expect.
2- 3B Kurt Lewis (31) - Fargo’s first ever 1st round pick, Lewis continues to be a steady force at the top of the lineup. His first year at 3B went off without a hitch, as Lewis hit .295/.365/.506 with 120 runs scored and 95 RBI. Lewis has only missed scoring 100 runs once in his 7 year career, and should easily eclipse that mark again this season.
3- 2B Mac Gray (28) - Gray has always been a huge injury risk, but when he plays, he might be the best offensive player in the NABCL. Last year was no different, Gray went .326/.409/.704, leading the league in OPS, hitting 51 HR’s, driving in 152 runs, and scoring 105. Gray will continue to get his days off as needed, in hopes of keeping the former MVP in the lineup.
4- DH Rudy Simms (32)- Former MVP Simms rolled into the prime of his career in style, hitting .333/.443/.667, finishing just behind teammate Gray in the OPS rankings, while hitting 44 HR’s, with 133 RBI, 100 walks, and 133 runs scored. Simms is a year older, but primed for another standout year.
5- RF Peter Masato (28) - Masato doesn’t have the batting eye everyone is used to seeing from Fargo offensive players, but he more than makes up for it with his light tower power. He led the team in HR’s (54) and RBI (153) last season, while hitting a respectable .274/.322/.581. Hitting behind Gray and Simms should assure Masato another shot at 150 RBI’s this season.
6- 1B Victor Carrasco (29) - Carrasco languished in AAA for several seasons, waiting for a spot to open up in the ML lineup. With the trade of Larry Flores two seasons ago, Carrasco’s number was called, and he’s done little to disappoint. His .332/.425/.491 line was stellar, and he finished only 5 runs and 11 RBI short of 100 in each category. A slight jump in his power numbers could bring Victor his first All Star appearance in Year 14.
7- C Damaso Montana (32) - Long time Fargo C Max Amaro had his usual fine season, but left via free agency, allowing Fargo to sign Montana to a two year deal. His batting eye will fit right in with this offense, and his defense should be a slight upgrade over Amaro.
8- CF Edgardo Sivilla (27)- Another player who waited an extra year or two for a spot to open, Sivilla came up in the middle of Year 13, and showed his trademark power (27 HR’s in 366 AB’s), and solid glove. An improvement on his .243 batting average in his first full ML season is expected.
9- SS Pasqual Guerrero (26) - SS has been a revolving door for Fargo for its entire existence, and this year will be no different. Rookie Guerrero will get first crack at the job, if his glove is as good as advertised, and he can work a few walks, he should hold onto it with no trouble.
The bench will be filled by emerging 2B/LF Sadie Washington (.320 BA last season backing up both Siddall and Gray), slugging RF Benito Johnson (averaging 30 HR’s in a part time roll the past 3 seasons), C Charlie Douglass (.353 BA in 64 games), and jack of all trades Bernard Parker.
Pitching
With the offense seemingly in good hands, all eyes turn to the pitching staff that is home to a 3 time reigning Cy Young winner, but that also let the team down last season during their aborted playoff run.
After 9 seasons of perpetual mediocrity, at best, from the pitching staff, the Roughriders have become a mainstay in the top 10 league ERA’s for the past 4 seasons. This is due in large part to the signing of Felipe Matos after season 8. Matos had a solid first season, but no one expected him to reel off 3 straight Cy Young awards in his age 39/40/41 seasons. Now 42 and coming off a very mediocre postseason, Matos raised some concerns that he was no longer the shut down ace he has been in past 4 seasons. Desperate to solidify the rotation, Fargo doled out $95 million dollars to secure Alex Schmidt, the top FA SP on the market, clearly showing they were committed to keeping the dynasty rolling for as long as possible.
SP1- Felipe Matos (42) - What more is there to say? Matos has won 3 straight Cy Young awards, started last season 17-0, and ended with 23 wins, 175 K’s, and a 3.20 ERA. He’s clearly got to slow down sometime, but Fargo won’t worry about that until it happens.
SP2- Juan Goya (26) - On a staff without Matos or Lenny Singleton, Goya would be the clear ace. He did not win 20 games for the first time in his career, but his gaudy 18-3 record, team leading 2.99 ERA, and career 58-18 record make him an incredibly solid #2 starter for this squad.
SP3- Alex Schmidt (31) - In any other situation, spending $95 million on a guy who isn’t a true ace would be insanity. But on a team that has a 4-5 year window, and no pitching ready in the minors, getting a guy like Schmidt, who will take the ball 35 times a year and have a shot at 20 wins, might just be worth it.
SP4- Luis Melendez (28) - The ultimate innings eater, Melendez is good for 230+ IP, 15 wins, and several days of rest for the bullpen each year. He’s nothing flashy, but definitely a mainstay in the rotation.
SP5- Frank House (25) - A rookie last year, House will slide up a few slots in the rotation before he’s through. In less than ¾’s of a season; he won 11 games, and flashed glimpses of being overpowering (143K’s in 148 IP).
Closer- Willie Lee (32) - Lee continued to provide All-Star caliber work closing games for Fargo last season. 32 saves, a 3.21 ERA, and a 1.02 WHIP say the 9th inning is safe in Willie’s hands.
Setup- Norm Johnson (28), Victor Martin (28), and Weldon Dodd (25)- Johnson and Martin both were solid in setup rolls last year, and are joined by lefty Dodd from AAA to give Fargo a solid bridge from the rotation to Lee.
Long Relief- Harry Witt (27), Carlos Romero (27), and Larry Howard (28) – Nothing special here, but Witt and Howard each pitched almost 100 innings last year, and Romero comes up from AAA to provide more of the same. If the offense scores as expected, the long relievers will be pitching in a lot of blowout wins, giving the SP’s a break. If this group is called on to be a key to this season, Fargo is in trouble.
Minors
The Fargo system is almost devoid of future ML starting pitching, but a few bright spots remain, several of which will play a role in the next 2-3 years:
1- LF Junior Kwon- One of the top hitting prospects in the minors, he is almost ready, but will need to wait a year or 2 for a spot to open in Fargo.
2- C Brian Takada- The future starting C for the team, he’s a decent game caller, but his real strength is just that, his strength. Takada projects to be a 40 HR hitting C, a rare breed that will fit nicely in Fargo’s lineup.
3- LF Morrie Hall- Hall is a masher with a great eye, and is closer to the majors than Kwon, but doesn’t have the upside.
4- RP Ralph Murray- The closer of the future, he combines a top notch fastball, great splits, and the ability to throw almost daily.
5- RP JR Phillips- If it weren’t for Murray, he’d be the future closer. As it is, he’ll be a great long RP, capable of throwing many high-leverage innings.
6- SP Earle Shaw- The best SP prospect in the system Shaw lacks a little command, but otherwise, has all the earmarks of a solid #4 SP.
7- RP Heath Brown- Nothing flashy, but a future staple of the bullpen.
8- RP Garland Stevens- A lefty version of Heath Brown.
9- RP Wilfredo Castilla- Will double as a spot SP/LR, and has the pitches and splits to be very effective in that role.
10- Brad McRae- Future SS for the team, he’s got a good glove, and enough of a bat to hit 20 HR’s and play every day.
Prognosis
After winning back to back World Series, last season’s disappointing exit in the 2nd round prompted Fargo to spend over $100 million dollars to fill the hole is it’s rotation, at catcher, and to bring back Siddall in LF. The calculated (and expensive) risk was substantial, but it is clear that the time to win in Fargo is now, as all but a handful of Fargo’s stars are in the prime of their careers. If Fargo does not compete for several titles in the next 3-5 seasons, this offseason will go down as a dismal failure. If they are able to return to the Series, this will go down with the Season 9 FA class of Matos, Grainger and Ortiz as one of the best off seasons in league history.
Prediction: 105-57, first place in the AL North, losing a tough 7 game series against Anaheim for the AL title.
Friday, July 10, 2009
The NABCL Hall of Fame
With the famed NABCL now in its 13th season, enough balls have passed through the infield that we can start to consider those rare few who might merit inclusion in the NABCL Hall of Fame. The busy WIS drones will eventually get around to automating an HBD HOF feature, but why wait to start the debate?
To determine our likely HOF candidates and their disposition, we looked at the records of every NABCL MVP, Cy Young winner, ROY, Fireman of the Year, Silver Slugger and All Star. We also scoured every record worth considering, career, team and single season. After compiling a representative sample of data, we started drawing some boundaries. To whit, we established reasonable minimums for ABs (2500) and IPs (1,000 for starters and 300 for relievers) and some pseudo-standards for awards, records and other personal accomplishments. We gave some consideration for the early pioneers who joined the league in their absolute prime but couldn’t stay around long and we developed a logarithm to forecast results for guys still in their prime.
When the dust settled, we looked at 48 HOF candidates and divided them into these categories:
Inaugural Class (5)
The Best of the Best. The NABCL version of Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Ruth and Wagner. Some are still playing and may further enhance their legacy but they are all true no-brainer additions to the Hall.
First Ballot (2)
One retired guy and one current who have had great careers but not quite good enough to make it on the NABCL Mt. Rushmore.
Second Ballot or Later (5)
Active or retired players with very strong records, but just not so compelling that they would automatically make it on the first ballot. The active guys are far enough along to know that their career merits the Hall, even if they seriously screw thing up for the rest of their careers.
Tracking for First Ballot (11)
Active players whose body of work so far strongly suggests that they will make it to the Hall on their first try. Of course, they could still mess things up, but the signs are all positive right now.
Tracking for Second Ballot or Later (11)
Active players who seem well on their way to great careers, but not so great that they are guaranteed a short wait for the HOF invite.
Not Long Enough (1)
A retired player who had good numbers but who finished too early and lacks the compelling achievements to make up for the early exit.
Not Good Enough (9)
Active or retired players who are/were very good, but not so much so that they qualify for the ultimate honor that is Hall of Fame induction. Better hold out hope for a sympathetic Veterans’ Committee.
Borderline (6)
Active or retired guys who are riding the line between just good enough and not quite. Herein lie those who will wait actually by their virtual phones, hoping beyond hope that this is their year. The stuff of great debate can be found here.
We’ll post these players category by category over the next few weeks, beginning with those great men who have claimed their place in the pantheon of NABCL heroes.
The Inaugural Five
The initial class of the Baseball Hall of Fame included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The first group of NABCL players to enter the hallowed Hall must be similarly legendary in their achievements. We think any reasonable assessment would result in these NABCL stalwarts being the first to have their visages cast in bronze and framed for all to gaze upon and admire.
Lenny Singleton, SP, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through now
240 W and 97 losses, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .223 OAV, 3141 Ks, 756 BB
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Lenny Singleton has been the best pitcher in NABCL history and possibly the best across HBD. A six-time CY Young winner (despite some ugly prejudice against him) and nine time All Star, the Pride of Sandusky Ohio should be an unanimous choice as the first inductee to the NABCL HOF. With a career ERA of 2.50, an OAV of .223 and an insane WHIP of 1.06, it is obvious why he remains a threat to reach 300 wins. Digging deeper into the stats, he already has over 3,000 Ks, averaging just under 1 per IP and his K/BB ratio is an impressive 4.15 to 1. The only hole in the Singleton resume: no World Series ring, but through no fault of his own as his post season numbers in 15 games are better than his regular season stats (1.40 ERA, .196 OAV and .93 WHIP). Simply put, Lenny is the standard by which all others are measured.
Albert Boone, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
226 W and 112 losses, 3.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .239 OAV, 2783 Ks, 1151 BB
A longtime stalwart of the Tacoma/Sacramento and now LA franchise, Albert Boone is a nine-time All Star and a fine hitting pitcher to boot. While he has never brought home a Cy Young award – how could he with Singleton around the entire time? -- he does have a NABCL World Championship to his credit and he is a longtime and consistent winner in the league, having never won less than 14 games in a season. Boone has also been incredibly durable; he’s never pitched less than 246 innings in a season and he had a stretch of three seasons in a row of 300+ IPs. Blessed with a hard sinker, Albert has been a strong strikeout pitcher as well, with eight seasons of 200+ Ks, and he might still join Singleton as the only pitchers in NABCL history with 3000 punchouts. Boone is a model of pitching excellence, consistency and longevity.
Felipe Matos, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
202 W and 97 losses, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .244 OAV, 2230 Ks, 840 BB
Even at 41, Felipe Matos remains an effective number 1 starter for the two-time defending NABCL Fargo Roughriders. A bit of a slow starter in his early career, Felipe bounced around the league a bit before reaching his first of seven All Star games as a member of the Pawtucket Patriots, but he only recently reached a level of mastery that allowed him to secure back to back Cy Young awards. While his numbers aren’t as spectacular as his contemporary Lenny Singleton, his stats are top notch in all aspects, including an impressive .667 winning percentage. Critics may scoff at an inflationary lift from pitching with the support of the mighty Fargo bats behind him, but Matos spent more seasons pitching for non-contenders than juggernauts. Who knows how long Felipe can keep aging like fine wine, but his numbers to date are enough to put him in the Hall.
Ricardo Johnson, 1B, age 34, ML Seasons 2 through now
.306 BA, .410 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.028 OPS, 625 HRs, 1643 RBIs, 1387 Runs, 2110 hits
The youngest of the initial five members of our Hall, Johnson’s accomplishments to date leave no doubt that he could be hit by a virtual truck tomorrow and still have the credentials to get in the door and then some. A three-time AL MVP and fixture for the former LA Robins and now Arizona Arithmetics franchise, Ricardo made his mark early as season two Rookie of the Year and he’s never slowed down since. A vicious slugger, he has never had less than 48 homers in a season and he has twice hit 67 (along with 150 RBIs both seasons). Moreover, Johnson has never had less than 104 runs and 129 RBIs in a season (with career highs of 143 and 182, respectively). He’s also been a seven time All Star and a six time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. His post season numbers are equally impressive and he twice led the Robins to World Series championships. At only 34 years of age and showing no signs of slowing down, who knows how deeply Ricardo will chisel his name into the NABCL record books before he is done?
Gerald Stull, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.343 BA, .419 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.021 OPS, 221 HRs, 804 RBIs, 759 Runs, 1,385 hits
Stull’s relatively brief stay in the NABCL and his rapid decline toward the end of his career were almost enough to get him excluded from HOF consideration. But a closer examination of his storied career not only impresses, it all but demands entry into the Hall as part of its inaugural class. He was the AL MVP for the first three seasons of the league, leading the storied Fargo franchise to three league championships and two world series wins. During that span, he was also a three-time All Star and Silver Slugger recipient. Stull still retains the NABCL record for highest career batting average and his second season was perhaps the most dominant in NABCL history (.396 BA, .502 OPB and 1.319 OPS – all records by far). Gerald was an above average fielder as well, spending most of his career in left before his deteriorating skills forced a move to 1B and DH. All in all, he was among the most feared hitters to ever play the virtual game. While no place for true one-hit wonders, the Hall of Fame gladly opens its doors for a true star who shined bright and burned fast.
Not Long Enough
The nature of the NABCL beast – with some fine players in season 1 already closer to the end of their careers than the beginning – means that we never got to see the full impact of these players. In some cases, these initial stars shined so brightly that their achievements make up for their relatively brief tenures. But in some unfortunate cases, very good for not very long simply isn’t good enough nor long enough to merit inclusion to the Hall of Fame.
Christin Cook, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.324 BA, .425 OBP, .480 SLG, .905 OPS, 89 HRs, 499 RBIs, 917 Runs, 1402 hits
Cook was a very good hitter with a great eye and blazing speed for the original Little Rock franchise (now El Paso) and for Kansas City where he won two championship rings in seasons 3 and 4. He was also a four-time All Star and winner of the Silver Slugger award, splitting his time between second base and center field. Even more impressively, he also has top five career numbers in Batting Average and On-Base Percentage. So why is Cook on the outside looking in when a similarly tenured Gerald Stull makes the grade? First, hardware. Where Stull was a two-time MVP, Cook was never near the best in the league, probably because, as good a hitter as he was, Christin never had the power numbers that propel an All-Star to MVP status. Over nine ML seasons, he averaged less than 10 homers and only about 55 RBIs. Second, potential, or, better stated, failure to reach potential. Cook was a top speedster and an OBP machine, but he never managed more than 48 steals in a season and he was caught stealing 40% of the time. He also had good glove and range ratings, but his actual stats suggest he was more of a defensive liability. Yes, Cook was a very good hitter, but as good as he was, he failed to reach his considerable potential and he lacked either the major impact or extended tenure of excellence that would have gained him a seat in the Hall.
First Ballot
After the inaugural class is seated in the Hall of Fame, attention turns to the next group of NABCL whose exploits and talents were such that they are certain to receive the necessary votes to waltz right in and take their place with their esteemed colleagues. To date, there are two players – one retired, one just past the prime of his career – who have done more than enough to ensure a quick and uncontroversial enshrinement. Doubtless there are more to come who will make the Hall on the first ballot, but most still have a few achievements to add to their resume or perhaps a minor flaw or two to fix. But these two champions have the record and the stature to get into the HOF right away.
Otis Pavlov, 3B, age 33, ML Seasons 1 through now
.293 BA, .359 OBP, .579 SLG, .938 OPS, 498 HRs, 1494 RBIs, 1359 Runs, 2060 hits
At first glance, the skeptic might wonder if the BA and OBP are good enough for the first ballot, and, true, there are several other players with impressive hitting and on-base rates. But this nine-time All Star, two-time MVP and former world champion with the Sacramento franchise (nee Tacoma, now LA) has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career. In 12 full seasons in the majors, Pavlov has averaged 41 HRs, 113 runs, 135 RBIs and 25 SBs per season and throughout he has maintained better than average fielding skills, with a Gold Glove to his credit. He is also a fine base runner and, for a power hitter, he is well disciplined, exceeding 100 whiffs only once in a season and averaging just 81 Ks per season. While he has slowed a bit of late and was allowed to leave as a free agent by new LA ownership, Pavlov has several more productive years ahead of him and will undoubtedly continue to build on his already sterling credentials.
Paul Yoshii, C, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.310 BA, .391 OBP, .538 SLG, .929 OPS, 341 HRs, 1112 RBIs, 1005 Runs, 1827 hits
In the MLB, catchers get lots of love when post season awards are handed out and HOF ballots are filled – backstops who can hit, catch their position well and call a good game are few and far between – and things are no different here in the NABCL. There have been a few very good catchers since season 1 (e.g., Brandon Nixon, James Hujimoto, Randy Carpenter, Placido Blanco), but Paul Yoshii is the only catcher in NABCL history to be named as a league MVP and he is fittingly the first to enter the Hall of Fame. In addition to his MVP honor, Yoshii is a world champion (with the Jackals in season 8) and a five-time All Star and a four-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. He was also a very consistent slugger who could hit for average and power, with 1000+ in Runs and RBIs (the only NABCL catcher to reach that combined milestone). Time will tell if Yoshii goes down as the greatest catcher in NABCL history, but he is certainly the first great catcher, a league pioneer and a Hall of Famer.
Second Ballot or Later
The next group of NABCL players all belong in the Hall of Fame – of that, there is little doubt. The question is how long will it take for them to amass the necessary votes to get through the door. Each of these players excelled and most maintained that excellence for a significant duration (though there are exceptions). But unlike the Inaugural Class and the First Ballot players, these athletes just come up a bit short in one aspect or another that would otherwise have made them first ballot material. Some lacked the personal awards that might have sealed the deal. Other lack the team accomplishments, the championships that allow players to jump to the front of the line. Still others may have been a bit one- or two-dimensional and lacked the overall numbers that put candidates over the top. Whatever these imperfections, these players are all still going to the Hall. They just may need to wait a bit longer and endure a little more aggravation getting there.
Randy Carpenter, C, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through 10
.337 BA, .407 OBP, .529 SLG, .936 OPS, 181 HRs, 804 RBIs, 754 Runs, 1504 hits
If there is a player on this list who may feel a bit screwed over for not getting into the Hall on the first ballot, it’s Randy Carpenter. The resume is truly impressive: six-time All Star, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and the 4th highest single season and career batting averages for any NABCL player. All in all, not too shabby. So what’s missing? A few things: no MVPs and no championship rings (he had one shot with the Screwballs in season two when he hit for a 1.203 OPS in the post-season but lost nonetheless). Moreover, Randy had a relatively short run of good seasons; he was great in legs one through six, but once the Scranton ownership waived him in season seven, it was a quick drop to the bottom. And despite being a great hitter, Carpenter's relatively short run left him shy of some key milestones that get guys noticed: no 1,000 runs, no 1,000 RBIs. Plus, Randy wasn’t much of a power hitter as he only averaged 18 dingers a season over his career, well short of comparable hitters of similar tenure. Yes, Carpenter was one of the premier catchers in the NABCL, but without the MVPs and rings, he won’t make it to the Hall on the first ballot.
Happy “The Fritter” Henley, RF, age 39, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.298 BA, .367 OBP, .566 SLG, .933 OPS, 301 HRs, 997 RBIs, 745 Runs, 1309 hits
Gentlemen, may we present for your Hall of Fame consideration, The Fritter? Surely in the long and illustrious history of the NABCL, there is no player more loved, more revered, more feted in word and song, than this two-time MVP, world champion and Gold Glover, and four-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner. An athletic marvel at a less than streamlined 5’ 9” and 241 lbs, Henley began his career as a hitting terror, first with Helena and then with Ottawa, where he destroyed pitching to the tune of a 1.138 OPS and picked up a fondness for Tim Horton’s pastries (and a nickname). He joined Kansas City the next season as a free agent and promptly led the Kangaroos not once but twice to the NABCL promised land. But like Gerald Stull, to whom he is oft compared, Happy was not able to maintain his excellence for very long, and by season seven, he was no longer an elite slugger in the league. This short run, combined with very good but not great career BA and OBP numbers, leaves him off the first ballot. Still, there is no doubt that the Fritter is a Hall of Famer, both in the NABCL and with the sugar and flour based confection eaters of the world.
Jim Wells, SP/RP, age 40, ML Seasons 1 through now
141 W and 63 L, 25 S, 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP .242 OAV, 1206 Ks, 379 BB
Assessing Jim Wells as a potential HOFer is fraught with challenges. Wells was never blessed with a starter’s stamina and durability numbers, and for that reason, he’s bounced back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation throughout his career. His first two seasons were largely undistinguished, spending most of his Colorado Springs tenure in non-marquee roles. But once Wells was traded to the storied LA franchise, he quickly established himself as a top of the rotation starter, winning Cy Young Award in seasons 5, 7 and 8 and leading the Disasters to world titles in two of those seasons. It was here that he cemented his reputation as a big game pitcher, amassing a 10-5 record in the post-season and with such impressive stats as a .212 OAV, .97 WHIP and a 2.37 ERA. But his run as a starter only lasted seven season, as LA management returned him to the pen before allowing him to leave as a free agent before the start of season 11. He moved further west to Honolulu where he had a stellar relief season as a part-time closer. In recent years, Wells has languished in Memphis, performing ably while riding out the string and collecting checks while he can. Still, two rings, and three Cy Youngs can’t be ignored. Wells may need to wait awhile as other guys with bigger numbers go ahead of him, but there is no doubt that he will get his call to the Hall.
Craig Hooper, OF, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.277 BA, .345 OBP, .556 SLG, .901 OPS, 505 HRs, 1390 RBIs, 1224 Runs, 1905 hits
To be clear, Craig Hooper doesn’t make the Hall of Fame simply on the basis of his most notable accomplishment: the NABCL record for most home runs in a season (70 in season 5). Hooper was no one hit wonder: he was a four-time All Star, a Gold Glove outfielder and a two-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. (And he was flat out robbed of an MVP in season 5 when voters inexplicably rallied to support Albert Piper despite Hoop’s monster season.) His career statistics suggest a generally consistent slugger who was an effective scorer and driver of runs; Craig averaged over 100 runs and about 115 RBIs per season. He also topped 500 home runs – barely – while averaging less than 65 Ks per season. Hoop only made it to the World Series once, performing well for the Screwballs throughout the season two playoffs, but he never got a ring. That hole in the resume, combined with some pedestrian batting average and OBP numbers and the lack of an MVP award, suggests that Craig will likely need to wait out a few annual ballots before finally getting the needed votes. But he is certainly a worthwhile member of the Hall.
Felipe Tarasco, 1B, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through now
.291 BA, .362 OBP, .610 SLG, .972 OPS, 503 HRs, 1276 RBIs, 1183 Runs, 1746 hits
Longtime Crawdad and current Colonial Felipe Tarasco is the next ballplayer who will eventually make his way into the Hall of Fame on the basis of what he has already achieved. The latest member of the 500 HR club, Tarasco has been a consistent slugger over 11 ML seasons, hitting no less than 41 dingers in a season over that tenure. Up to this season, he was tied with HOFer Ricardo Johnson for fourth on the career slugging list and he will likely maintain a .600+ SLG career number as his remaining years wind down. His BA and OBP numbers are respectable and, unlike many of his slugging peers, he had some wheels to go with the lumber, stealing 160+ bases through the years. He’s also been a five-time All Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. The main blight on his record: no post-season experience in the Bigs, a hole that is hard to look past and one that will likely keep him waiting a while for the HOF call.
To determine our likely HOF candidates and their disposition, we looked at the records of every NABCL MVP, Cy Young winner, ROY, Fireman of the Year, Silver Slugger and All Star. We also scoured every record worth considering, career, team and single season. After compiling a representative sample of data, we started drawing some boundaries. To whit, we established reasonable minimums for ABs (2500) and IPs (1,000 for starters and 300 for relievers) and some pseudo-standards for awards, records and other personal accomplishments. We gave some consideration for the early pioneers who joined the league in their absolute prime but couldn’t stay around long and we developed a logarithm to forecast results for guys still in their prime.
When the dust settled, we looked at 48 HOF candidates and divided them into these categories:
Inaugural Class (5)
The Best of the Best. The NABCL version of Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Ruth and Wagner. Some are still playing and may further enhance their legacy but they are all true no-brainer additions to the Hall.
First Ballot (2)
One retired guy and one current who have had great careers but not quite good enough to make it on the NABCL Mt. Rushmore.
Second Ballot or Later (5)
Active or retired players with very strong records, but just not so compelling that they would automatically make it on the first ballot. The active guys are far enough along to know that their career merits the Hall, even if they seriously screw thing up for the rest of their careers.
Tracking for First Ballot (11)
Active players whose body of work so far strongly suggests that they will make it to the Hall on their first try. Of course, they could still mess things up, but the signs are all positive right now.
Tracking for Second Ballot or Later (11)
Active players who seem well on their way to great careers, but not so great that they are guaranteed a short wait for the HOF invite.
Not Long Enough (1)
A retired player who had good numbers but who finished too early and lacks the compelling achievements to make up for the early exit.
Not Good Enough (9)
Active or retired players who are/were very good, but not so much so that they qualify for the ultimate honor that is Hall of Fame induction. Better hold out hope for a sympathetic Veterans’ Committee.
Borderline (6)
Active or retired guys who are riding the line between just good enough and not quite. Herein lie those who will wait actually by their virtual phones, hoping beyond hope that this is their year. The stuff of great debate can be found here.
We’ll post these players category by category over the next few weeks, beginning with those great men who have claimed their place in the pantheon of NABCL heroes.
The Inaugural Five
The initial class of the Baseball Hall of Fame included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The first group of NABCL players to enter the hallowed Hall must be similarly legendary in their achievements. We think any reasonable assessment would result in these NABCL stalwarts being the first to have their visages cast in bronze and framed for all to gaze upon and admire.
Lenny Singleton, SP, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through now
240 W and 97 losses, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .223 OAV, 3141 Ks, 756 BB
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Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Lenny Singleton has been the best pitcher in NABCL history and possibly the best across HBD. A six-time CY Young winner (despite some ugly prejudice against him) and nine time All Star, the Pride of Sandusky Ohio should be an unanimous choice as the first inductee to the NABCL HOF. With a career ERA of 2.50, an OAV of .223 and an insane WHIP of 1.06, it is obvious why he remains a threat to reach 300 wins. Digging deeper into the stats, he already has over 3,000 Ks, averaging just under 1 per IP and his K/BB ratio is an impressive 4.15 to 1. The only hole in the Singleton resume: no World Series ring, but through no fault of his own as his post season numbers in 15 games are better than his regular season stats (1.40 ERA, .196 OAV and .93 WHIP). Simply put, Lenny is the standard by which all others are measured.
Albert Boone, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
226 W and 112 losses, 3.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .239 OAV, 2783 Ks, 1151 BB
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A longtime stalwart of the Tacoma/Sacramento and now LA franchise, Albert Boone is a nine-time All Star and a fine hitting pitcher to boot. While he has never brought home a Cy Young award – how could he with Singleton around the entire time? -- he does have a NABCL World Championship to his credit and he is a longtime and consistent winner in the league, having never won less than 14 games in a season. Boone has also been incredibly durable; he’s never pitched less than 246 innings in a season and he had a stretch of three seasons in a row of 300+ IPs. Blessed with a hard sinker, Albert has been a strong strikeout pitcher as well, with eight seasons of 200+ Ks, and he might still join Singleton as the only pitchers in NABCL history with 3000 punchouts. Boone is a model of pitching excellence, consistency and longevity.
Felipe Matos, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
202 W and 97 losses, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .244 OAV, 2230 Ks, 840 BB
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Even at 41, Felipe Matos remains an effective number 1 starter for the two-time defending NABCL Fargo Roughriders. A bit of a slow starter in his early career, Felipe bounced around the league a bit before reaching his first of seven All Star games as a member of the Pawtucket Patriots, but he only recently reached a level of mastery that allowed him to secure back to back Cy Young awards. While his numbers aren’t as spectacular as his contemporary Lenny Singleton, his stats are top notch in all aspects, including an impressive .667 winning percentage. Critics may scoff at an inflationary lift from pitching with the support of the mighty Fargo bats behind him, but Matos spent more seasons pitching for non-contenders than juggernauts. Who knows how long Felipe can keep aging like fine wine, but his numbers to date are enough to put him in the Hall.
Ricardo Johnson, 1B, age 34, ML Seasons 2 through now
.306 BA, .410 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.028 OPS, 625 HRs, 1643 RBIs, 1387 Runs, 2110 hits
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The youngest of the initial five members of our Hall, Johnson’s accomplishments to date leave no doubt that he could be hit by a virtual truck tomorrow and still have the credentials to get in the door and then some. A three-time AL MVP and fixture for the former LA Robins and now Arizona Arithmetics franchise, Ricardo made his mark early as season two Rookie of the Year and he’s never slowed down since. A vicious slugger, he has never had less than 48 homers in a season and he has twice hit 67 (along with 150 RBIs both seasons). Moreover, Johnson has never had less than 104 runs and 129 RBIs in a season (with career highs of 143 and 182, respectively). He’s also been a seven time All Star and a six time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. His post season numbers are equally impressive and he twice led the Robins to World Series championships. At only 34 years of age and showing no signs of slowing down, who knows how deeply Ricardo will chisel his name into the NABCL record books before he is done?
Gerald Stull, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.343 BA, .419 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.021 OPS, 221 HRs, 804 RBIs, 759 Runs, 1,385 hits
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Stull’s relatively brief stay in the NABCL and his rapid decline toward the end of his career were almost enough to get him excluded from HOF consideration. But a closer examination of his storied career not only impresses, it all but demands entry into the Hall as part of its inaugural class. He was the AL MVP for the first three seasons of the league, leading the storied Fargo franchise to three league championships and two world series wins. During that span, he was also a three-time All Star and Silver Slugger recipient. Stull still retains the NABCL record for highest career batting average and his second season was perhaps the most dominant in NABCL history (.396 BA, .502 OPB and 1.319 OPS – all records by far). Gerald was an above average fielder as well, spending most of his career in left before his deteriorating skills forced a move to 1B and DH. All in all, he was among the most feared hitters to ever play the virtual game. While no place for true one-hit wonders, the Hall of Fame gladly opens its doors for a true star who shined bright and burned fast.
Not Long Enough
The nature of the NABCL beast – with some fine players in season 1 already closer to the end of their careers than the beginning – means that we never got to see the full impact of these players. In some cases, these initial stars shined so brightly that their achievements make up for their relatively brief tenures. But in some unfortunate cases, very good for not very long simply isn’t good enough nor long enough to merit inclusion to the Hall of Fame.
Christin Cook, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.324 BA, .425 OBP, .480 SLG, .905 OPS, 89 HRs, 499 RBIs, 917 Runs, 1402 hits
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Cook was a very good hitter with a great eye and blazing speed for the original Little Rock franchise (now El Paso) and for Kansas City where he won two championship rings in seasons 3 and 4. He was also a four-time All Star and winner of the Silver Slugger award, splitting his time between second base and center field. Even more impressively, he also has top five career numbers in Batting Average and On-Base Percentage. So why is Cook on the outside looking in when a similarly tenured Gerald Stull makes the grade? First, hardware. Where Stull was a two-time MVP, Cook was never near the best in the league, probably because, as good a hitter as he was, Christin never had the power numbers that propel an All-Star to MVP status. Over nine ML seasons, he averaged less than 10 homers and only about 55 RBIs. Second, potential, or, better stated, failure to reach potential. Cook was a top speedster and an OBP machine, but he never managed more than 48 steals in a season and he was caught stealing 40% of the time. He also had good glove and range ratings, but his actual stats suggest he was more of a defensive liability. Yes, Cook was a very good hitter, but as good as he was, he failed to reach his considerable potential and he lacked either the major impact or extended tenure of excellence that would have gained him a seat in the Hall.
First Ballot
After the inaugural class is seated in the Hall of Fame, attention turns to the next group of NABCL whose exploits and talents were such that they are certain to receive the necessary votes to waltz right in and take their place with their esteemed colleagues. To date, there are two players – one retired, one just past the prime of his career – who have done more than enough to ensure a quick and uncontroversial enshrinement. Doubtless there are more to come who will make the Hall on the first ballot, but most still have a few achievements to add to their resume or perhaps a minor flaw or two to fix. But these two champions have the record and the stature to get into the HOF right away.
Otis Pavlov, 3B, age 33, ML Seasons 1 through now
.293 BA, .359 OBP, .579 SLG, .938 OPS, 498 HRs, 1494 RBIs, 1359 Runs, 2060 hits
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At first glance, the skeptic might wonder if the BA and OBP are good enough for the first ballot, and, true, there are several other players with impressive hitting and on-base rates. But this nine-time All Star, two-time MVP and former world champion with the Sacramento franchise (nee Tacoma, now LA) has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career. In 12 full seasons in the majors, Pavlov has averaged 41 HRs, 113 runs, 135 RBIs and 25 SBs per season and throughout he has maintained better than average fielding skills, with a Gold Glove to his credit. He is also a fine base runner and, for a power hitter, he is well disciplined, exceeding 100 whiffs only once in a season and averaging just 81 Ks per season. While he has slowed a bit of late and was allowed to leave as a free agent by new LA ownership, Pavlov has several more productive years ahead of him and will undoubtedly continue to build on his already sterling credentials.
Paul Yoshii, C, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.310 BA, .391 OBP, .538 SLG, .929 OPS, 341 HRs, 1112 RBIs, 1005 Runs, 1827 hits
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In the MLB, catchers get lots of love when post season awards are handed out and HOF ballots are filled – backstops who can hit, catch their position well and call a good game are few and far between – and things are no different here in the NABCL. There have been a few very good catchers since season 1 (e.g., Brandon Nixon, James Hujimoto, Randy Carpenter, Placido Blanco), but Paul Yoshii is the only catcher in NABCL history to be named as a league MVP and he is fittingly the first to enter the Hall of Fame. In addition to his MVP honor, Yoshii is a world champion (with the Jackals in season 8) and a five-time All Star and a four-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. He was also a very consistent slugger who could hit for average and power, with 1000+ in Runs and RBIs (the only NABCL catcher to reach that combined milestone). Time will tell if Yoshii goes down as the greatest catcher in NABCL history, but he is certainly the first great catcher, a league pioneer and a Hall of Famer.
Second Ballot or Later
The next group of NABCL players all belong in the Hall of Fame – of that, there is little doubt. The question is how long will it take for them to amass the necessary votes to get through the door. Each of these players excelled and most maintained that excellence for a significant duration (though there are exceptions). But unlike the Inaugural Class and the First Ballot players, these athletes just come up a bit short in one aspect or another that would otherwise have made them first ballot material. Some lacked the personal awards that might have sealed the deal. Other lack the team accomplishments, the championships that allow players to jump to the front of the line. Still others may have been a bit one- or two-dimensional and lacked the overall numbers that put candidates over the top. Whatever these imperfections, these players are all still going to the Hall. They just may need to wait a bit longer and endure a little more aggravation getting there.
Randy Carpenter, C, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through 10
.337 BA, .407 OBP, .529 SLG, .936 OPS, 181 HRs, 804 RBIs, 754 Runs, 1504 hits
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If there is a player on this list who may feel a bit screwed over for not getting into the Hall on the first ballot, it’s Randy Carpenter. The resume is truly impressive: six-time All Star, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and the 4th highest single season and career batting averages for any NABCL player. All in all, not too shabby. So what’s missing? A few things: no MVPs and no championship rings (he had one shot with the Screwballs in season two when he hit for a 1.203 OPS in the post-season but lost nonetheless). Moreover, Randy had a relatively short run of good seasons; he was great in legs one through six, but once the Scranton ownership waived him in season seven, it was a quick drop to the bottom. And despite being a great hitter, Carpenter's relatively short run left him shy of some key milestones that get guys noticed: no 1,000 runs, no 1,000 RBIs. Plus, Randy wasn’t much of a power hitter as he only averaged 18 dingers a season over his career, well short of comparable hitters of similar tenure. Yes, Carpenter was one of the premier catchers in the NABCL, but without the MVPs and rings, he won’t make it to the Hall on the first ballot.
Happy “The Fritter” Henley, RF, age 39, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.298 BA, .367 OBP, .566 SLG, .933 OPS, 301 HRs, 997 RBIs, 745 Runs, 1309 hits
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Gentlemen, may we present for your Hall of Fame consideration, The Fritter? Surely in the long and illustrious history of the NABCL, there is no player more loved, more revered, more feted in word and song, than this two-time MVP, world champion and Gold Glover, and four-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner. An athletic marvel at a less than streamlined 5’ 9” and 241 lbs, Henley began his career as a hitting terror, first with Helena and then with Ottawa, where he destroyed pitching to the tune of a 1.138 OPS and picked up a fondness for Tim Horton’s pastries (and a nickname). He joined Kansas City the next season as a free agent and promptly led the Kangaroos not once but twice to the NABCL promised land. But like Gerald Stull, to whom he is oft compared, Happy was not able to maintain his excellence for very long, and by season seven, he was no longer an elite slugger in the league. This short run, combined with very good but not great career BA and OBP numbers, leaves him off the first ballot. Still, there is no doubt that the Fritter is a Hall of Famer, both in the NABCL and with the sugar and flour based confection eaters of the world.
Jim Wells, SP/RP, age 40, ML Seasons 1 through now
141 W and 63 L, 25 S, 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP .242 OAV, 1206 Ks, 379 BB
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Assessing Jim Wells as a potential HOFer is fraught with challenges. Wells was never blessed with a starter’s stamina and durability numbers, and for that reason, he’s bounced back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation throughout his career. His first two seasons were largely undistinguished, spending most of his Colorado Springs tenure in non-marquee roles. But once Wells was traded to the storied LA franchise, he quickly established himself as a top of the rotation starter, winning Cy Young Award in seasons 5, 7 and 8 and leading the Disasters to world titles in two of those seasons. It was here that he cemented his reputation as a big game pitcher, amassing a 10-5 record in the post-season and with such impressive stats as a .212 OAV, .97 WHIP and a 2.37 ERA. But his run as a starter only lasted seven season, as LA management returned him to the pen before allowing him to leave as a free agent before the start of season 11. He moved further west to Honolulu where he had a stellar relief season as a part-time closer. In recent years, Wells has languished in Memphis, performing ably while riding out the string and collecting checks while he can. Still, two rings, and three Cy Youngs can’t be ignored. Wells may need to wait awhile as other guys with bigger numbers go ahead of him, but there is no doubt that he will get his call to the Hall.
Craig Hooper, OF, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.277 BA, .345 OBP, .556 SLG, .901 OPS, 505 HRs, 1390 RBIs, 1224 Runs, 1905 hits
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To be clear, Craig Hooper doesn’t make the Hall of Fame simply on the basis of his most notable accomplishment: the NABCL record for most home runs in a season (70 in season 5). Hooper was no one hit wonder: he was a four-time All Star, a Gold Glove outfielder and a two-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. (And he was flat out robbed of an MVP in season 5 when voters inexplicably rallied to support Albert Piper despite Hoop’s monster season.) His career statistics suggest a generally consistent slugger who was an effective scorer and driver of runs; Craig averaged over 100 runs and about 115 RBIs per season. He also topped 500 home runs – barely – while averaging less than 65 Ks per season. Hoop only made it to the World Series once, performing well for the Screwballs throughout the season two playoffs, but he never got a ring. That hole in the resume, combined with some pedestrian batting average and OBP numbers and the lack of an MVP award, suggests that Craig will likely need to wait out a few annual ballots before finally getting the needed votes. But he is certainly a worthwhile member of the Hall.
Felipe Tarasco, 1B, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through now
.291 BA, .362 OBP, .610 SLG, .972 OPS, 503 HRs, 1276 RBIs, 1183 Runs, 1746 hits
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Longtime Crawdad and current Colonial Felipe Tarasco is the next ballplayer who will eventually make his way into the Hall of Fame on the basis of what he has already achieved. The latest member of the 500 HR club, Tarasco has been a consistent slugger over 11 ML seasons, hitting no less than 41 dingers in a season over that tenure. Up to this season, he was tied with HOFer Ricardo Johnson for fourth on the career slugging list and he will likely maintain a .600+ SLG career number as his remaining years wind down. His BA and OBP numbers are respectable and, unlike many of his slugging peers, he had some wheels to go with the lumber, stealing 160+ bases through the years. He’s also been a five-time All Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. The main blight on his record: no post-season experience in the Bigs, a hole that is hard to look past and one that will likely keep him waiting a while for the HOF call.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Season 13 Preview - The El Paso Ultraviolence
Outlook: Bouyed by last season's momentum The Ultraviolence look to contend for the AL South title once again. Will the grooming of three key rookies be enough to allow The Ultraviolence to contend.
Key additions: El Paso was thwarted from adding a top of the line starting pitcher by the wild bidding on the few available stars. The team had to settle for SP Albert Castilla in the free agent market. The offseason also saw EP acquire RF Pedro Merced who should add some power to the lineup and brings the speed that El Paso covets.
Key losses: El Paso fan favorite Bob Fleming and season 2 draftee was not re-signed. Fleming averaged over 70 SB and 100 runs a season during his time in the red and burnt orange uniform.
Starting lineup
2B Al Mendez, NABCL record 197 SB last season - think Vince
LF Keith Sellers, the rookie will replace the aforementioned Fleming and add power to the speed
DH Andrew Lankford, 16th overall pick from season 8 makes his ML debut this year
1B Bump Boucher, his 131 RBI last year were below his first 3 ML seasons
3B Armando Garrido, has hit exactly .263 in each of his first 3 ML seasons, added 36 SB
RF Pedro Merced, expected to add some pop to the lineup, strong arm
C Mandy Michaels, hit .284 as a September callup last season
CF Carlos Rios, 5 straight Gold Gloves to go with 14 HR and 60 RBI
SS Tony Belliard, 3-time Gold Glover looks to rebound from off year
Pitchers
SP Diego Lee, season 4 IFA has accumlated 96 ML wins and a 3.97 ERA
SP Edgar Matos, season 12 Rookie of the year piled up 19 wins
SP Ricardo Santos, went 15-8 with a 4.33 ERA
SP Larry Browne, after opening his career with 3 winning seasons he fell to 7-14
SP Albert Castilla, went 7-10 with a 4.17 ERA for Las Vegas last season
RP Luis Moya, 3.75 ERA to go with his 120 innings
RP Juan Benitez, 38 saves and a 3.41 ERA
RP Trenidad Perez, the lefty was solid in his rookie campaign with a 2.96 ERA
RP David Guerrero, rookie lefty adds some bullpen depth
Prediction: 99-63, El Paso is a young team ready to push Jose's Jacksonville team for the belt in the AL South. El Paso by submission in September.
Friday, June 12, 2009
1st Annual NABCL Franchise Prestige Rankings
First, let me begin with a little background on this project. I was recently inspired by Dream League who compiles what they call a Franchise Prestige Ranking. I decided to steal the idea (while citing them of course) and create one for this league. I thought this would be a good time in the season to ponder the results.
The process was relatively simple. Basically, I went through and compiled team records, owner history, playoff history, and team names for every single franchise in the league since season 1 and put them in a spread sheet. I crunched the numbers and created a relatively crude formula which quantifies a franchise’s overall prestige based on this data.
The final overall formula is an additive index based on the franchise’s win %, WS Championships, Pennants, LCS appearances, Division Titles, Playoff Appearances, the number of winning seasons, and average place in the division standings. Franchises were penalized for high owner turnover, last place finishes in the division, and the worst record in the league.
Like I said, the formula is crude and I am open to suggestions. Suggestions that raise my franchise ranking will be given the highest preference :)
Please note that the table below only shows some of the data used to generate the overall ranking. I did not include all of the data for space reasons and only included some of the more pertinent categories. I will be happy to share the full data with anyone who requests it. TC if you are interested.
Enjoy!
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**Win % - franchise's all-time winning percentage; Playoffs - # of playoff appearances; Division - # of division titles; Pennants - # of League Championships; WS - # of World Series Titles
The process was relatively simple. Basically, I went through and compiled team records, owner history, playoff history, and team names for every single franchise in the league since season 1 and put them in a spread sheet. I crunched the numbers and created a relatively crude formula which quantifies a franchise’s overall prestige based on this data.
The final overall formula is an additive index based on the franchise’s win %, WS Championships, Pennants, LCS appearances, Division Titles, Playoff Appearances, the number of winning seasons, and average place in the division standings. Franchises were penalized for high owner turnover, last place finishes in the division, and the worst record in the league.
Like I said, the formula is crude and I am open to suggestions. Suggestions that raise my franchise ranking will be given the highest preference :)
Please note that the table below only shows some of the data used to generate the overall ranking. I did not include all of the data for space reasons and only included some of the more pertinent categories. I will be happy to share the full data with anyone who requests it. TC if you are interested.
Enjoy!
********************************************
| Rnk | Team | Win % | Playoffs | Division | Pennant | WS | Overall |
| 1 | Fargo Roughriders | 0.559 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 145.5 |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jackals | 0.588 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 144.3 |
| 3 | Arizona Arithmetics | 0.554 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 123.4 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Studio Kings | 0.611 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 112.5 |
| 5 | Chicago Beast | 0.569 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 99.5 |
| 6 | San Antonio Missions (Viva the Puffy Taco) | 0.553 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 97.8 |
| 7 | Kansas City Glasgow Kisses | 0.493 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 68.7 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Dead Milkmen | 0.538 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 60.3 |
| 9 | Portland Jacks | 0.546 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56.9 |
| 10 | Scranton Scewballs | 0.498 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 53.7 |
| 11 | Memphis Maniax | 0.507 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 12 | Richmond Poor Men | 0.502 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 13 | Washington D.C. Federals | 0.517 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 48.3 |
| 14 | Boston Colonials | 0.504 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28.9 |
| 15 | El Paso Ultraviolence | 0.526 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26.4 |
| 16 | Anaheim Natural Disasters | 0.497 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23.3 |
| 17 | Trenton Thrashers | 0.504 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21.9 |
| 18 | Charlotte Queen's Men | 0.488 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15.6 |
| 19 | Boise Hawks | 0.497 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.7 |
| 20 | New Orleans Crawdads | 0.484 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.8 |
| 21 | Helena Misfits | 0.492 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.6 |
| 22 | New Britain Block Heads | 0.497 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.3 |
| 23 | Vancouver Loonies | 0.458 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4.8 |
| 24 | Seattle Salty Dogs | 0.467 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5.3 |
| 25 | San Diego Storm | 0.450 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -5.6 |
| 26 | Charleston Tories | 0.459 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -6.7 |
| 27 | Pawtucket Patriots | 0.435 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -7.8 |
| 28 | Scottsdale Army of One | 0.434 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10.4 |
| 29 | Salem Raptors | 0.469 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -17.3 |
| 30 | Wichita Pioneers | 0.421 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -17.4 |
| 31 | Louisville Legionnaires | 0.451 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -25.3 |
| 32 | Iowa City Shuckers | 0.432 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -29.5 |
**Win % - franchise's all-time winning percentage; Playoffs - # of playoff appearances; Division - # of division titles; Pennants - # of League Championships; WS - # of World Series Titles
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