Season 10 Championship Odds
Los Angeles Robins (5-2): Nothing new here. Nothing to see here. Move along. The Season 9 champs do it with great pitching. The pitching stars are getting into the mid 30's (Jim Wells 37, Rafael Cruz 33, Stubby Knight 32), but they have plenty of tread left on the tires. On the offensive side, Ricardo Johnson may be the greatest player in NABCL history. He has won the Rookie of the Year, MVP (twice), is an All-Star (6-times), Silver Slugger (4-times), and even won the Home Run Derby last season. I think he is the favorite for the Cy Young this year. They are good, really good. Can they become the first team in the NABCL to win 3 World Championships? Don't bet against them.
San Antonio Missions (Viva The Puffy Taco) (3-1): Back to back NL pennants but the ring remains elusive. But for good measure, they went out and signed Catcher Rolando Belliard, he of the .301 career average, Ken Small for pitching depth, and took a chance on minor leaguer John Nathan. Nathan has huge control problems but the rest of his attributes scream "ACE"!!!Making it out of the NL Gauntlet a third time will be tough, but the betting public likes a sure thing, and they are a sure a thing as any.
Sacramento Terrible Two's (7-2): Same ol', same ol'. 6 straight NL West titles, but only 1-World Series ring. This may be the deepest and most talented team in the Capital City yet, but time is running out. Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz left as free agents in cost cutting moves, it is only a matter of time before the window closes. 2-time NL MVP Otis Pavlov leads an offense full of muscle with 50-hr man Dave Glaus, former MVP Albert Piper, young Dario Moran, and rookie 40/40 candidate Harry Paleaz. On the pitching side they have ace Albert Boone (1-win behind Lenny Singleton for the most all-time), Fausto Bennett, Alex Schmidt, and rookie Cyrus Curtis. For the fifth spot in the rotation it is time for Randy Delucci to prove he is worthy of a starting spot. They came close to pulling the trigger on a number of trades in the winter but so far have stood pat. The Two's are riding the fine line of trading away some talent, while still remaining super-competitive, in order to restock the system. They do have 5 of the first 70 picks in the draft so they must cash in there. The question here becomes when to rebuild, not if.
Fargo Roughriders (9-2): Management spent a lot of money to improve on last years 84-78 campaign by signing All-Stars Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz away from Sacramento, and controversial pitcher Felipe Matos away from, well...a lot of teams. The problem last year wasn't the league leading 1011 runs scored, it was the 924 runs given up. Matos will help solidify the rotation, and Fargo should make a run in the AL North.
Chicago Beast (5-1): Livan Flores struggled after he was aquired from New Orleans late in season 9, but he will pay huge dividends in a full season in Chicago. B.C. Parent should finally be recognized for the MVP talent that he is, and new arrival (via trade) Tito Katou is a young fireballer who will add depth to the rotation. In the loaded National League it is hard to call anyone the favorite, but the Beast are going to be ridiculously good.
Jacksonville Jackals (7-1): Moment of silence for Ebby...he will be missed, but in his place comes Jose (Vegas), and the ship will remain on course. Bob Shaw will be back to close out games, young SS phenom Derrek Clinton should be an All-Star, and the pitching is always strong. If anyone can knock off the Robin's, the Jackals are at the front of the line.
Trenton Thrashers (8-1): They signed former Cy Young winner Alan Phillips in the off season to add to an already strong rotation of Pep Fang, Ivan Cedeno, and Junior Sanchez. They quietly won the NL East last year by 18 games and should easily do so again. The question becomes, can they stay motivated down the stretch when the games are meaningless? And how long can they hold off the rebuilding team in Kansas City and the young phenoms in Wichita.
Anaheim Natural Disasters (8-1): Forgotten in the Robin's run to the World Series was the fact that Anaheim finished only 4 games behind Los Angeles in the AL West. If oft-injured SS Tony Wanatabe could stay healthy (2 DL trips last year and a 48 health rating), his bat alone could be the difference in finishing 1st or 2nd. Kevin Martin and Howard Sellers, while long in the tooth, are also long in experience and will only help add depth. The Natural Disasters are a playoff team, but will it be as a division winner, or a wild card?
El Paso Ultraviolence (8-1): Young pitching is where it's at, and El Paso has it. 20-game winner Diego Lee is only 24, Luis Moya is 23 and scheduled for a breakout season, and Larry Browne (25) won 11 games in only 138 innings pitched. Mix in 23 year old ROY winner Bump Boucher and his historic .308/.366 53 homer run 169 rbi season, and the Ultraviolence are going to be Ultragood. The AL South is the new NL West, with Iowa City even making noise in free agency.
Portland Jacks (10-1): Got off to a great start last year and led the Two's by 9 games early in the season, they ended up making the playoffs as usual and knocked off Chicago in the 1st round. Hall of Fame closer Lew Oliver is 38 and cant close forever but he should be his normal dominant self in season 10. They are tough to beat and always compete, but in a loaded NL West, even the slightest misstep can leave you out of the playoffs.
Honolulu Anteaters (10-1): They won 88 games but finished last in the NL West and 19 games out of 1st and baseballers has followed that up and guaranteed a playoff spot for the Anteaters, and he has the horses to back up the prediction. We all know about Lenny Singleton, but he had a lot of offensive help last year with Derrick Stanley and Warren Collins. This is the darkhorse in the NL this season, and not a team you want to see in the postseason if they do make it.
Richmond Poor Men (12-1): Alex Mieses is a horse coming off a 16-win season, Hamlet Mercedes is 35 but was 13-3 last year, and Vin Lockwood won 12 games in his own right. The offense is led by John Barkley who already has 173 home runs in his 4-year career. If Jacksonville and Anaheim are camping out in line to knock off the Robin's, then Richmond has to be right behind them.
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen (13-1): Barely hung on to beat New Britain by 1-game to win the AL North in season 9. Young Jacob Dunn broke the .300 barrier in only his 2nd season, after a sub-par season 8, Shooter Farrell rebounded to hit .270 and hit 42 bombs, and Walter Wilkins seems to have the RF Silver Slugger locked up with his high .340's average. The offense is there, and it helps the pitching staff win games they shouldnt. They have been the class of the AL North, but with Fargo trying to win now, and the Block Heads breathing down their necks, a postseason sitting at home could be in the cards.
Colorado Springs Coyotes (15-1): They may have been passed by in the NL West by Honolulu. The Coyotes made a few moves in free agency bringing in Homer Roberts to solidify the back of the bullpen and Tripp Hayes to solifify the front. Overall, the team remains the mostly the same, which is not bad considering they won 90 games last year and made the playoffs. It's just that other teams did more in the offseason.
Seattle Salty Dogs (15-1): A difficult year in season 9 for the Salty Dogs. It was supposed to be a breakout year in Seattle where the young talent came together and made a "playoffs or bust" run to the postseason. Instead, injuries and a lack of timely hitting doomed the 'dogs to another year of waiting. They did finish in 2nd place and posted 83 wins, so they are on the rise, but it is time for young Bum Stocker to take the team on his shoulders and prove he is worthy of all the accolades the organization has bestowed upon him.
Norfolk Loyalists (18-1): They were busy in the offseason bringing in Glen Dunn, William Shields, Bo Forbes, and Del Rijo and hung around the medicore AL East most of the year before giving way to Washington D.C. late in the year. On offense, Ismael Franco has a 50-hr bat and Devon Russell must prove he is the face of the franchise and can carry them to the playoffs (see Bum Stocker above). The money they spent shows they want to win now, and the division should be theirs for the taking.
New Britian Block Heads (18-1): They have veteran talent on offense in Craig Hooper and young talent in Rickey Sutton to lead them. Add in Mikey Knotts' 61 long balls and they can mash with anyone. The problem is those guys cant pitch. It was a heartbreaking season as they missed the postseason by 1 game, but has the window closed, or is it cracked just enough for them to push it open and bust through?
Toronto Flare (20-1): Not a whole lot of impact moves in the offseason, Oswaldo Estrada (signed as a free agent) will eat innings, and Diego Guerrero (via trade) should reach 200-innings and 15-wins at best. Young Javier Garza could win a Cy Young if Lenny Singleton would get traded to the AL or retire. On offense, Joshua Whitaker is ready to follow his .300+, 30+ hr season and establish himself in the middle of the Flare lineup, but he needs help.
Helena Misfits (30-1): They finished 79-83 which placed them in the cellar of the AL North in season 9. Only 6 teams allowed fewer runs than the Misfits, the problem was their offense, they just didnt score enough (run differental of +9). What did they do in the offseason to fix the problem? They signed career minor leaguer (27 years old) Brian Sullivan to a 4 year $30 million contract. He may help, but not enough to move them past the much improved teams (Fargo) and better teams (Philly and New Britain) ahead of them.
Washington D.C. Federals (30-1): They started last year as 50-1 favorites, and at the 100 game mark had fallen to 75-1. The AL East was terrible for most of the season with all 4 teams sitting below .500 and nobody wanting to win the division. Then the Federals got hot and finished at 83-79 to beat Norfolk by 4 games. Then, for good measure, they beat Richmond in the first round of the playoffs, upset Anaheim in the 2nd round, and pushed the eventual champs (LA Robin's) to 7 games in the ALCS. They are getting a lot of money in the preseason and for good reason. They went out and signed Mo McFeeley and Estaban Rocque to help in the bullpen. Then signed Ronnie Priest (107 career wins) to solidify the rotation. And to help with the offense, they signed 26-year old John Chang to a 5-year deal and veteran (season 7 CF Silver Slugger) Dale Hinske to a 2-year deal. They have been active, spent money, are in a down division, and have postseason experience. This could be a bet that pays off big.
Wichita 'weed (35-1): They had the longest odds last year (2500-1) and at the 100 game mark werent much better (1000-1), but it is only a matter of time. No one has a better or deeper minor league system than the 'weed. Oldave has brought them along slowly but watch out once they reach the bigs. Until they do, they made some shrewd signings in the offseason and they are my team to watch. Former Kansas City SS Willie Guerrero brings 3 All-Star appearances and a Gold Glove with him, Vitas Hogan own a .305 career average, and Catcher Paul Yoshi brings 5 All-Star nods, an MVP, and 4 Silver Sluggers to the team. Yes they are up in years, but rich in experience. Mix that with Bono Garcia and Joe Rhodes who are already in Wichita and this team is dangerous. If he pulls the trigger and brings up Tony Trinidad, Sean Daal, and company, they may very well unseat the Thrashers sooner rather than later. Trenton is tough in the NL East but a wild card run wouldnt shock me.
Memphis Maniax (50-1): The Maniax won the tough NL South 5 out of 6 years before finishing 3rd last year. Was th is a blip on the screen? Phil Rubel and Donaldo Vidal lead the charge on offense, but what about the rotation? Lance Campbell was an All-Star in season 7, but he is 34. After winning 15 games in season 5, Orlando Baez has yet to top 13 since and finished 12-16 last year. Same with Justin Reitsma, he is 34 and has yet to win more than 11 games in a season. If they could get a few good years out of their arms they could contend for a wild card, but it will be tough to knock off the back to back NL Pennant winning Missions.
Charoltte Queen's Men (60-1): They are in a tough division but do have some pieces to build around. Glen Kirkland has a nice glove (and a big price tag), Mel Malone has huge power and is only 25, Tomas Gomez has a big bat, and Ken Upshaw is going to be an All-Star 3rd baseman. The problem is pitching, they are pinning their hopes on young 23-year old Placido Carrara. He cant do it by himself, this could be a good team but Carrara needs arms around him and quickly.
New Orleans Crawdads (75-1): All-Star Felipe Tarasco is the final remaining name on the Crawdads and they are in rebuilding mode. They came so close, finishing 2nd numerous times in the first 9 seasons of the NABCL. The question now becomes, how long do they wait to unload Mr. Tarasco for prospects to hasten the rebuiling process?
Iowa City Shuckers (75-1): The wonders of free agency, it can set you back many seasons or make your season. The Shuckers are hoping the money they spent will make them a contender in season 10. While a lot of teams where spending big money on offense, Iowa City quietly snapped up the pitching, signing Sid Prince (112 career wins), Rex Mays, and John Blake to long term deals. They resigning veteran speedster Skeeter Reese to man the top of the order. They also came to terms with young Freddy Garcia to presumably close games, and they still have Harry Simpson who can now sit back as a #2 behind Prince and hopefully have his break out year. The AL South is tough, but a .500 record would be movement in the right direction, a wild card run would be a dream season.
San Diego Storm (80-1): Another team who spent shrewd dollars in the offseason but are in the wrong division. Teddy Fischbach never had that breakout season they wanted in Sacramento, then was traded, and was allowed to go to free agency. If he can live up to potential, he will be a great top of the order guy. Catcher Gregg Wright (32) was a huge sign, he is a former Gold Glover with a .314 career average and .407 career obp. After having some huge years in Jacksonville, AJ McIntyre has yet to get his groove back. But is there anything better than Petco Park for a pitcher to find himself? He should add close to 18 wins onto his 122 career total. They have the pitching, the ballpark, and young CF Vincente DeRojas is ready to be an All-Star. Will it be enough? I think the bettors are wrong on this one and San Diego will battle for a Wild Card right to the end of the season.
Boston Colonials (100-1): It was a tough year in Boston as a franchise rich in tradition (3 AL East titles) finished under .500 for the first time. But help is on the way and in a few seasons they will be back. Billy Cannon is a .295 career hitter, everyone's favorite Sherman Carter could hit 50 hr's one year, if they can get his average up to even .250 he could put up MVP type numbers. In limited at-bats last year, Catcher Norman Harris hit .346 and should get the starting nod, Chuck Canseco (SS) was signed for his glove and one of the gold variety could be in his future (you cant ignore the impact he will have on the pitching staff), Roger Bottenfield was signed and can play any of the corners, and they are taking a chance when they signed Brian Shuey in hopes his control wont hurt him too bad. He has all the other attributes. 24-year old William Parrott could be a future stud stopper and 25-year old Spike Rivera will give the Colonials 250 innings and 10-15 wins. Get 'em while they're down, but in the AL East, you never know.
Vancouver Loonies (100-1): Adrian Christenson will be one of the best overall players in the game and they will build the future around him. Wesley Ingram has the power, but the rest of the offense is in rebuild mode. The pitching staff is about the same. Oscar Duvall could win 18+ games with some offensive help, and young Javier Lugo could easily be up for Rookie of the Year honors when it is all said and done. Ultimately, it will be a few years before the Loonies are back in business.
Las Vegas Muckers (250-1): Sin City is a ways away from competing in the AL West. They are using stud Geronimo Nieto as a closer, but how many games will he have to close? If they move him into the rotation he can stabilize it, or he can be moved for prospects. They made a few moves during the winter signing SP Brian Rollins and 3B Bill Ledee, but they are only stop-gaps. Young Henry Figga will try to carry the load but with no one hitting around him it will be tough.
Kansas City Here I Come (250-1): They were quiet as a church mouse in the offseason as they are rebuilding and going with the guys that are here. Long-time ace Jimmy Ellis is coming to the end, but he has a season or two left in his arm. Bump Dickens will add innings and 23-year old future stud Pepe Escobar will be dominant on the mound once his splits reach near projections. On the other side is 26-year old phenom Ricky Valdes. He has somehow hit .327/.400 with 100+ hr's in his first 5 seasons before he was 26. He is amazing and if he reaches projections he will be the future star in KC.
Louisville Legionnaires (500-1): They kept the losses below 100 (99) last year and that was a step. Restocking the majors is step two and the plan is in motion. 31-year old Mikey Cannon was signed to help with the rotation. He hasnt ever really gotten the chance to start games over an entire season and could surprise. 12 wins arent out of the question. Allen Mathews has lost range but can still hit a bit and Don Leary has hit .280 before and can get on base. All were signed to very modest contracts which wont set the team back regardless of their performance. Very smart moves. They also signed Jason Coomer for $3 million this year and he is a former 17-game winner. The future of the rotation is on Ed Harris. He is 28-years old and has 3 straight double digit loss seasons, granted some of this is due to lack of offense, but if he can get it together, they may have their future ace.
Pawtucket Patriots (1000-1): In the weak AL East they managed only 44 wins. So they are obviously rebuilding. They have plenty of talent to get them started. Michael Chiba's splits project to 100/100 and he is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors. On the pitching side they have two potential aces in Henry Sorrento (9-17 in his rookie campaign) and Wiki Beltran (17 adn 19 losses last 2 years). Both are young and unproven but have the potential to be very good. There one free agent signing was a big one as they signed Jared DeShields away from Jacksonville for a 3yr $15 million contract to close out games. How many opportunities he has is the real question.
There you go guys. Again, I put a lot of time into this so I hope I hit everyone's main points and I obviously wasn't trying to offend anyone. I love this league and am just trying to increase the experience. Good luck to all (even you bullet)...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Change of Heart in Norfolk???
Norfolk (AP)
Toward the end of last season, the brass of the Loyalist franchise had all but written off their entire team and were willing to undergo a complete rebuild. After diving into the stats a little further though, Loyalist GM did a complete 180 on that stance. "We had 5 of our 9 starters have career lows in batting average and slugging - I can't imagine that would happen 2 years in a row" GM Squirrel1014 stated today. "I'm not saying that us losing was a complete fluke, but when you have a relatively young lineup that's not in a ratings decline you have to wonder if the cards were just not in our favor last season."
The fans here in Norfolk are hoping the same thing. The Loyalists made big acquisitions at 3B and on the pitching staff to regain division supremacy. Here's a look at the starting lineup:
C: P.T. Valentin returns as Norfolk's main backstop. He led the Loyalist staff to giving up 50 less runs in Season 9 than Season 8, a difference that if the offense had performed, would have made a huge difference. He will be counted on to guide the staff and help develop the catcher of the future in Alex Hampton
1B: Rookie Tex Leach will try to fill a big hole in the lineup from last season at 1B. Norfolk had a hard time getting production out of the position last season and will be looking toward Leach as a player to build around for the future.
2B: Speed demon Ruben Soriano returns for his 6th season in Norfolk. Last season he posted a .273 average with 79 SB in 88 attempts. If he can duplicate those numbers management would be happy.
3B: Morgan Glover (acquired via trade with Chicago) will man the hot corner, taking over for one of the biggest busts in Loyalist history with Alex Broadhurst almost getting murdered by fans after his dismal performance in Season 9... Glover hit 30 homeruns last season and has a history of success that Norfolk hopes can help them reach the postseason again.
SS: Devon Russell is slowly becoming the face of the franchise. Insulted that he was not mentioned in AL ROY talk, the 2nd year shortstop looks to improve on his impressive rookie season that saw him net a .286 average with 27 HR and 19 SB.
LF: Ismael Franco was the biggest star in Norfolk last season after a 51 HR season. Franco came very close to being traded last season, but in the end put up the best season he's ever had in HBD. Another 45 HR season is not out of the question for one of the most feared hitters in the AL
CF: Veteran George Damon may be starting his decline at age 31, but he can still hit with the best of them. Last season Damon posted a career high .295 average to go along with 27 long balls.
RF: Jim Blair returns for his 5th season in a Loyalist uniform. A career .281 hitter with 114 career HR, Blair could be set for a breakout season.
DH: Once again, Norfolk's hopes lie in the production of DH Wilson May. In Season 9 when May bashed 42 HR with a .290 average, the Loyalists won the division. Last season May only hit 27 HR with an OPS 100 points lower than his previous season. If May can produce 35 HR, watch out for this team.
STARTING ROTATION: Tony Zurbaran, Hugh Bradford, Miguel Almanza, Don Kim, and Glen Dunn
BULLPEN: The success of the 'pen rides on the arms of Joey Kent, Rob Ransom and closer Todd Bacsik (arguably one of the best Rule V pickups in NABCL history)
One thing is for sure here in Norfolk - another losing season will implode this entire team. Good thing the brass doesn't expect anything less than a division championship!
Toward the end of last season, the brass of the Loyalist franchise had all but written off their entire team and were willing to undergo a complete rebuild. After diving into the stats a little further though, Loyalist GM did a complete 180 on that stance. "We had 5 of our 9 starters have career lows in batting average and slugging - I can't imagine that would happen 2 years in a row" GM Squirrel1014 stated today. "I'm not saying that us losing was a complete fluke, but when you have a relatively young lineup that's not in a ratings decline you have to wonder if the cards were just not in our favor last season."
The fans here in Norfolk are hoping the same thing. The Loyalists made big acquisitions at 3B and on the pitching staff to regain division supremacy. Here's a look at the starting lineup:
C: P.T. Valentin returns as Norfolk's main backstop. He led the Loyalist staff to giving up 50 less runs in Season 9 than Season 8, a difference that if the offense had performed, would have made a huge difference. He will be counted on to guide the staff and help develop the catcher of the future in Alex Hampton
1B: Rookie Tex Leach will try to fill a big hole in the lineup from last season at 1B. Norfolk had a hard time getting production out of the position last season and will be looking toward Leach as a player to build around for the future.
2B: Speed demon Ruben Soriano returns for his 6th season in Norfolk. Last season he posted a .273 average with 79 SB in 88 attempts. If he can duplicate those numbers management would be happy.
3B: Morgan Glover (acquired via trade with Chicago) will man the hot corner, taking over for one of the biggest busts in Loyalist history with Alex Broadhurst almost getting murdered by fans after his dismal performance in Season 9... Glover hit 30 homeruns last season and has a history of success that Norfolk hopes can help them reach the postseason again.
SS: Devon Russell is slowly becoming the face of the franchise. Insulted that he was not mentioned in AL ROY talk, the 2nd year shortstop looks to improve on his impressive rookie season that saw him net a .286 average with 27 HR and 19 SB.
LF: Ismael Franco was the biggest star in Norfolk last season after a 51 HR season. Franco came very close to being traded last season, but in the end put up the best season he's ever had in HBD. Another 45 HR season is not out of the question for one of the most feared hitters in the AL
CF: Veteran George Damon may be starting his decline at age 31, but he can still hit with the best of them. Last season Damon posted a career high .295 average to go along with 27 long balls.
RF: Jim Blair returns for his 5th season in a Loyalist uniform. A career .281 hitter with 114 career HR, Blair could be set for a breakout season.
DH: Once again, Norfolk's hopes lie in the production of DH Wilson May. In Season 9 when May bashed 42 HR with a .290 average, the Loyalists won the division. Last season May only hit 27 HR with an OPS 100 points lower than his previous season. If May can produce 35 HR, watch out for this team.
STARTING ROTATION: Tony Zurbaran, Hugh Bradford, Miguel Almanza, Don Kim, and Glen Dunn
BULLPEN: The success of the 'pen rides on the arms of Joey Kent, Rob Ransom and closer Todd Bacsik (arguably one of the best Rule V pickups in NABCL history)
One thing is for sure here in Norfolk - another losing season will implode this entire team. Good thing the brass doesn't expect anything less than a division championship!
We Built This City On.....?
Boston, MA - The Boston Colonials find themselves in unfamiliar territory. After relying on veterans to lead the team for most of it's early existence and failing to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season this past year while finishing with a franchise worst 67-95 record, the team now enters the 10th season of the NABCL with the 4th youngest ML roster in the entire league.
Franchise faces Nate York and Glenn Glynn are gone (though neither has officially filed their retirement papers with the league) as are many of the other thirty-somethings that have regularly filled the Colonial media guide. As a matter of fact, the only 2 players currently on the 25-man roster that are over 30 are pitchers Lee Bolick and Bo Goldstein, both 31.
Those vacated roster spots aren't exactly boiling over with the top talent in the Boston system, however. Sure, several young promising players are here - like 24-year old Norman Harris, the team's likely #1 C this season - who came over in a trade from Sacramento prior to season 9 in exchange for Danys Ortiz. Also here is last season's surprise 20-20 man as the everyday RF - 26-year old Todd Haney - though he is back as the team's 1B this season. CF Sherman Carter (27) is still young and still power-packed...and still fragile, and the rotation and bullpen will be littered with young arms like Spike Rivera (25), Derrick Wilkerson (25), Albert Zurbaran (23) and Julio Sanchez (also 23 - part 3 of the Ortiz trade).
Still, the "Top Talent" in the system is a season or three away from making an impact on the big club. Players like AAA RF Alex Ortiz, AA shortstop Marvin Vernon (also part of the deal that brought Norman Harris to Boston), AA pitcher Alex Lo, and Boston's great International find from last season - High-A 1B Rico Parra.
These players do give Boston fans hope for a return to grace in the future, but those fans are still rightfully cautiously optimistic. The team doesn't exactly have a great track record for turning "prospects" into "All Stars". Drafting low each season doesn't exactly lead to a stocked minor league system, and Boston has historically gone after Type A and Type B Free Agents which do cost the team draft picks, but only a very few "homegrown" Boston prospects have ever reached the major leagues - for any team.
If the four players mentioned above all eventually make their way to Boston, it will likely signal the successful completion of a complete about face in the franchise's direction for team construction - from buying the top FA each season to building from within by drafting well and nurturing prospects through the system.
Boston fans just hope that the down-time doesn't last too long; another 90+ loss season is likely....and likely to wear on the faithful. The young pitching staff took it's lumps last season and most think, no, EXPECT that they can improve on that performance, while the (young-ish) Free Agents brought in this season - SP Brian Shuey, 3B Roger Bottenfield and utility player Chuck Canseco - should help the pitching staff, lineup and defense all make strides in that direction, as well.
Boston management has also made adjustments to the budget to allow for more International FA finds/signings and has upped it's efforts in Collegiate and High School scouting to help make the minor leagues even more of an asset for the big club. Another Parra-like signing or two and a strong draft this season could double the # of potential ML impact players in the system.
In this "what have you done for me lately" world of sports, it is hard for a team to, 1) admit that it is time to rebuild, and, 2) pull the trigger and actually work towards that goal in a swift, planned manner. Boston GM Rick Randall hopes that the rebuilding can get them back into contention in the AL East by next season.
"I don't think that we are that far away. The moves that we have made over the past season and a half have really set us up great for the future - and let's not forget, the East was won by an 83-win team last season (Washington)...and they made it all the way to the ALCS." said Randall. "We've cut player payroll from eighty-nine million just a few seasons ago to fifty-six million this season while at the same time doubling the overall prospect budget. If we can improve 5-8 games this season and then again 5-8 next, we are right there knocking on the door for the division once again - and this time we will be built to sustain that presence."
Boston fans certainly hope that is the case.
Staff writer Ken Heller
© Boston Herald, 2008
Franchise faces Nate York and Glenn Glynn are gone (though neither has officially filed their retirement papers with the league) as are many of the other thirty-somethings that have regularly filled the Colonial media guide. As a matter of fact, the only 2 players currently on the 25-man roster that are over 30 are pitchers Lee Bolick and Bo Goldstein, both 31.
Those vacated roster spots aren't exactly boiling over with the top talent in the Boston system, however. Sure, several young promising players are here - like 24-year old Norman Harris, the team's likely #1 C this season - who came over in a trade from Sacramento prior to season 9 in exchange for Danys Ortiz. Also here is last season's surprise 20-20 man as the everyday RF - 26-year old Todd Haney - though he is back as the team's 1B this season. CF Sherman Carter (27) is still young and still power-packed...and still fragile, and the rotation and bullpen will be littered with young arms like Spike Rivera (25), Derrick Wilkerson (25), Albert Zurbaran (23) and Julio Sanchez (also 23 - part 3 of the Ortiz trade).
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Still, the "Top Talent" in the system is a season or three away from making an impact on the big club. Players like AAA RF Alex Ortiz, AA shortstop Marvin Vernon (also part of the deal that brought Norman Harris to Boston), AA pitcher Alex Lo, and Boston's great International find from last season - High-A 1B Rico Parra.
These players do give Boston fans hope for a return to grace in the future, but those fans are still rightfully cautiously optimistic. The team doesn't exactly have a great track record for turning "prospects" into "All Stars". Drafting low each season doesn't exactly lead to a stocked minor league system, and Boston has historically gone after Type A and Type B Free Agents which do cost the team draft picks, but only a very few "homegrown" Boston prospects have ever reached the major leagues - for any team.
If the four players mentioned above all eventually make their way to Boston, it will likely signal the successful completion of a complete about face in the franchise's direction for team construction - from buying the top FA each season to building from within by drafting well and nurturing prospects through the system.
Boston fans just hope that the down-time doesn't last too long; another 90+ loss season is likely....and likely to wear on the faithful. The young pitching staff took it's lumps last season and most think, no, EXPECT that they can improve on that performance, while the (young-ish) Free Agents brought in this season - SP Brian Shuey, 3B Roger Bottenfield and utility player Chuck Canseco - should help the pitching staff, lineup and defense all make strides in that direction, as well.
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Boston management has also made adjustments to the budget to allow for more International FA finds/signings and has upped it's efforts in Collegiate and High School scouting to help make the minor leagues even more of an asset for the big club. Another Parra-like signing or two and a strong draft this season could double the # of potential ML impact players in the system.
In this "what have you done for me lately" world of sports, it is hard for a team to, 1) admit that it is time to rebuild, and, 2) pull the trigger and actually work towards that goal in a swift, planned manner. Boston GM Rick Randall hopes that the rebuilding can get them back into contention in the AL East by next season.
"I don't think that we are that far away. The moves that we have made over the past season and a half have really set us up great for the future - and let's not forget, the East was won by an 83-win team last season (Washington)...and they made it all the way to the ALCS." said Randall. "We've cut player payroll from eighty-nine million just a few seasons ago to fifty-six million this season while at the same time doubling the overall prospect budget. If we can improve 5-8 games this season and then again 5-8 next, we are right there knocking on the door for the division once again - and this time we will be built to sustain that presence."
Boston fans certainly hope that is the case.
Staff writer Ken Heller
© Boston Herald, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Poll Results for Gerald Stull
The poll results as to whether or not
belongs in the Hall of Fame are in:
9 voters say he is a 1st ballot HoF'er
6 voters say he belongs, but not on the 1st ballot
3 voters say he falls just short
1 voter says NO WAY he doesn't belong
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9 voters say he is a 1st ballot HoF'er
6 voters say he belongs, but not on the 1st ballot
3 voters say he falls just short
1 voter says NO WAY he doesn't belong
Poll Results for The FRITTER
The Poll results for whether or not
belongs in the Hall of Fame are in:
9 voters say he is a 1st ballot HoF'er
7 voters say he belongs, just not on the 1st ballot
3 voters say he falls just short
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9 voters say he is a 1st ballot HoF'er
7 voters say he belongs, just not on the 1st ballot
3 voters say he falls just short
Season 10 - Toughest Division Poll
We got back the results on preseason poll as to which division is the toughest heading into Season 10:
8 votes for the NL West
1 vote for the AL South
4 votes for the AL West
8 votes for the NL West
1 vote for the AL South
4 votes for the AL West
Season 10's Inaugral Top 10 - Bottom 5
1.
- San Antonio is coming off back to back World Series bids, including 99 wins last season. Is this the year, or do they end up being the Buffalo Bills of NABCL? Up until recently Jacksonville held that label, but they were able to shed that by winning it all in Season 8. They made a few changes in signing Ken Small for the bullpen and Rolando Belliard to sit behind the dish but traded away defensive SS Glen Duvall. Still, this should be enough to compete again for the crown.
2.
- Coming off their 2nd title in 5 years they Robin's simply dominated with pitching last year, but don't forget future Hall of Famer Ricardo Johnson carried the offense. Barring any catastrophic injuries we expect the Robin's to easily make the playoffs again. The only questions are is age starting to creep up on Wells and Stubby, and is the fire burning coming off a season where they won it all?
3.
- In the last 6 years they've won over 100 games 5 times! Yet the one season they didn't (97 wins in Season 7) they won the World Series. Everyone knows about their vaunted rotation (Boone, Bennett, Schmidt, Dellucci, Polanco) and their MVP (Pavlov). While age and rising salaries may start the break up of this team in another couple seasons this year I expect them to battle for the crown this year. Question is if they suffer thru injuries will they be able to rebound in a tough AL West?
4.
- The Beast have NABCL's version of "Trader Jack", who is never afraid to pull the trigger on a blockbuster at any moment. They will have former Cy Young winner Livan Flores (acquired from New Orleans last year) for a full season (assuming they don't jettison him) plus they still have a team that can clobber you to death, lead by superstar slugger B.C. Parent. The fact that Chcago plays in the NL North makes their path a little easier to the playoffs, where they've never been able to seal the deal.
5.
- They did sign former Cy Young winner Allan Philips to add to the rotation, and still have Tomas Villano and Garrett Perez to anchor the offense. They have to be considered the favorites in the NL East. There are concerns that Wichita could finally churn out the young talent into a contender, but until it happens they are still the favorites in the division.
6.
- Jacksonville would undoubtedly be ranked higher if they hadn't recently gone thru a change in ownership. Still they have the talent to easily make a deep run (as evidence by the Season 8 championship). However the bar has been set high, as the former owners never finished below 2nd place and only missed the playoffs once in 9 Seasons.
7.
- They easily made the biggest splash in the offseason signing Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz to bolster the offense and finally bringing in Felipe Matos. Matos is not well liked in parts (especially San Antonio), but he was signed for this year, with no regards to the next 2 years as the contract escalates in the each of the following years, although there is a mutual option for the final year (at $13.5 M) which I'm sure Felipe will be happy to exercise. Fargo has the pieces in place to finally return to the playoffs since the Glory Days of Gerald Stull.
- Only ended up 4 games behind World Series champ LA Robins. This Anaheim team is for real. Lead by a pitching staff that gave up the fewest runs in the AL, their pythagorean record says they were a better team then they actually played so there is room for improvement record wise. That is definitely a scary thought for AL teams. Rising star Tony Wanatabe is fully healthy again and along with Lyle Hatcher will help lead the offense.
- Portland is a team that is often overlooked in lists like these. But in poring over the numbers there consistency just keeps popping out. They played in the toughest division in all of baseball last year (all four teams had 88 or more wins) and reached the playoffs via the wildcard. Tony Soriano is back to pace the offense, while Junior Kennedy , Sammy Mercado , Carlos Santana , and Gregory Randall lead the rotation with the ever reliable Lew Oliver closing out the games. Oliver is starting to creep up there in age and you wonder if eventually it will catch up. Still, with the risk of alienating fans of other teams (especially those in the AL) we think they belong here.
- I'll admit I used a coin flip to fill the last spot in the top 10. Other consideration was given to Colorado Springs and El Paso. Colorado Springs plays in the tough NL West, and El Paso is in a very tough AL South. However, Richmond, a talented team in their own right, won the toss.
- The Weed have been acquiring talent in both the draft and Int'l Free Agent market. This offseason they went wild with the Weed signings with players like Stephen Webb , Willie Guerrero , Paul Yoshii , Vitas Hogan , Slim Lowery , and more. With all of the talent accumulated they should easily climb out of the Bottom 5 for a while and be a dark horse candidate for a wild card. Still until proven otherwise they are one of the bottom 5 franchises.
- Let's see where to start...Well they can no longer claim that it is someone else's mess as they are in the 4th year of ownership long enough to turn it around. They don't have a lot of hope of contending this year. Their top positional players and pitchers have been shopped and yet are still in Louisville, that should tell you something.
- They gave up 1098 runs last season (no thats not a typo), so if your boys needs some BP, bring 'em on in to Beantown. Their one major offseason acquisition was Brian Shuey who struggles with command, which could be a BIG problem in Fenway. So unless the farm is going to help out immensely I don't see the Colonials going too far, even in that weak division.
- While Boston gave up 1098 runs, the Shuckers weren't far behind with 1082 runs allowed. While they did add Sid Prince , Rex Mays , and John Blake to help the staff, think BAND AID.
- While they have been drafting quite well recently (being at the top will allow that) they still managed only 44 wins last year in a very weak AL East. They didn't allow quite as many runs as Boston or Iowa City, they still allowed over 1000 runs. Unfortunately for them they also managed to score 200 fewer runs then either of those teams which is a recipe for disaster. Make no mistake about it, there is definitely some talent here (Michael Chiba , Henry Sorrento , Wiki Beltran ) and Steven Wolf was a good Rule 5 pickup. The question is can they get all the talent to play up to its potential and finally get out of the Bottom 5 for good?
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2.
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3.
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4.
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- The Beast have NABCL's version of "Trader Jack", who is never afraid to pull the trigger on a blockbuster at any moment. They will have former Cy Young winner Livan Flores (acquired from New Orleans last year) for a full season (assuming they don't jettison him) plus they still have a team that can clobber you to death, lead by superstar slugger B.C. Parent. The fact that Chcago plays in the NL North makes their path a little easier to the playoffs, where they've never been able to seal the deal.
5.
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- They did sign former Cy Young winner Allan Philips to add to the rotation, and still have Tomas Villano and Garrett Perez to anchor the offense. They have to be considered the favorites in the NL East. There are concerns that Wichita could finally churn out the young talent into a contender, but until it happens they are still the favorites in the division.
6.
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7.
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8.
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9.
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10.
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BOTTOM 5
28.
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29.
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30.
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31.
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32.
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Monday, September 8, 2008
Seattle Salty Dogs Season 10 Lineup Preview
1. Brett Siddall - 1B – This 31 year old left handed On Base machine (career .409 OBP in 9 seasons) will be asked to grab a 1st basemen’s mitt and move over from his customary 2B position at times (see below for reason why). Durability is definitely a concern, so he may hit lower in the order at times to keep from racking up too many AB’s. However, if he gets on regularly someone may be having a career year in RBI’s. Was acquired from Helena late in the season and while his batting average suffered in Seattle, he still got on base at a .436 clip while in a Salty Dog uniform.
2. Jesse Murphy - C – Switch hitting catcher always seems to start off slow followed by a nice rebound. Maybe more work in Spring Training will help. Last year when he settled into the #2 spot is when he really started hitting well, and that’s why he’ll start the year here.
3. Bum Stocker - 3B – Still only 24 yet is entering his 3rd season. Will continue to be the cornerstone of the franchise. He improved in every category from his rookie season except RBI’s. We expect another jump in #’s this year, while continuing to play the hot corner.
4. Alex Randolph - RF – After winning a Gold Glove at 2B in Season 8 Randolph herniated a disk in his neck early in Season 9. He came back late, but was obviously not the same. He’s being asked to move to RF to make better use of his arm. He is also a durability risk and will be given plenty of breathers whenever possible. Not your traditional cleanup hitter, but with his veteran experience, plus lack of other options, he gets the call.
5. Bronson Grey - LF – Came up through the system as a 3B, but Bum Stocker has a lock on that, so in order to crack the lineup he’s moving to LF. He came up last year as an injury replacement and struggled. He was sent back down and came back up again after more injuries and played much better. This year the kid gloves come off and more is expected, maybe too much. Hopefully he’ll respond to the pressure.
6. Dante Baek - CF – A two time Gold Glover in CF (Season’s 7 & 8), he was asked to play some SS last year. While he moved without hesitation, it clearly was not the best fit. He hit a career high 24 HR’s but was inconsistent all year. We’re hoping a return to CF will help put him at ease and flash more of the All-Star form he showed in Season 8 when he started off on fire.
7. Paul Martin - 2B – Martin was the 6th pick of the Season 8 draft after a great Junior year at the University of San Francisco. He has been fast tracked to the majors ever since. Season 9 was his first full season and he started at AA. He hit well enough to get to AAA by the end of the year. He was much sought after during the offseason, but will get to the major leagues soon. There is talk of letting him stay the first month or so in AAA to help him adjust (only 24 AB’s in AAA last year) as well as to help delay the arbitration years by 1.
8. Glen Duvall - SS – Acquired in the offseason (along with Chip Rakers and Hanley Serafini ) for William Murata . Definitely a steep price, but GM Don Key felt he had to do something to shore up the SS position. Murata was blocked at all the corners (and 2B) and by acquiring a gold glove caliber SS in Duvall, it also allows them to move Baek back to CF where he has previously won Gold Gloves. So from that standpoint the trade makes more sense(especially if he hits as well in Seattle as he did in San Antonio), and also acquired some future bullpen help, not to mention someone with some playoff experience.
Bench
Michael Martin - 2B/OF – He is making the Major League minimum. Couple that with good range and speedy wheels, he makes the team as a defensive replacement/pinch runner type.
Alex Cabrera - 1B/LF – 2 years removed from a 30HR/100 RBI season, he was signed for relatively nothing ($845K) to provide backup. He performed decent as a backup ( .283/.348/.471/.819 – 10HR’s – 39 RBI’s – 272 AB’s) last year and will get a similar amount of AB’s this year with Martin starting in AAA, and others needing breathers.
D.T. Jennings - Utility - Acquired late last year, will fill at many positions in an attempt to get him 300+ AB's at the major league level.
The rest of the bench has not yet been finalized.
Bernie Sanchez - C - Brought in as a back up, will play vs lefties to give Murphy a break.
2. Jesse Murphy - C – Switch hitting catcher always seems to start off slow followed by a nice rebound. Maybe more work in Spring Training will help. Last year when he settled into the #2 spot is when he really started hitting well, and that’s why he’ll start the year here.
3. Bum Stocker - 3B – Still only 24 yet is entering his 3rd season. Will continue to be the cornerstone of the franchise. He improved in every category from his rookie season except RBI’s. We expect another jump in #’s this year, while continuing to play the hot corner.
4. Alex Randolph - RF – After winning a Gold Glove at 2B in Season 8 Randolph herniated a disk in his neck early in Season 9. He came back late, but was obviously not the same. He’s being asked to move to RF to make better use of his arm. He is also a durability risk and will be given plenty of breathers whenever possible. Not your traditional cleanup hitter, but with his veteran experience, plus lack of other options, he gets the call.
5. Bronson Grey - LF – Came up through the system as a 3B, but Bum Stocker has a lock on that, so in order to crack the lineup he’s moving to LF. He came up last year as an injury replacement and struggled. He was sent back down and came back up again after more injuries and played much better. This year the kid gloves come off and more is expected, maybe too much. Hopefully he’ll respond to the pressure.
6. Dante Baek - CF – A two time Gold Glover in CF (Season’s 7 & 8), he was asked to play some SS last year. While he moved without hesitation, it clearly was not the best fit. He hit a career high 24 HR’s but was inconsistent all year. We’re hoping a return to CF will help put him at ease and flash more of the All-Star form he showed in Season 8 when he started off on fire.
7. Paul Martin - 2B – Martin was the 6th pick of the Season 8 draft after a great Junior year at the University of San Francisco. He has been fast tracked to the majors ever since. Season 9 was his first full season and he started at AA. He hit well enough to get to AAA by the end of the year. He was much sought after during the offseason, but will get to the major leagues soon. There is talk of letting him stay the first month or so in AAA to help him adjust (only 24 AB’s in AAA last year) as well as to help delay the arbitration years by 1.
8. Glen Duvall - SS – Acquired in the offseason (along with Chip Rakers and Hanley Serafini ) for William Murata . Definitely a steep price, but GM Don Key felt he had to do something to shore up the SS position. Murata was blocked at all the corners (and 2B) and by acquiring a gold glove caliber SS in Duvall, it also allows them to move Baek back to CF where he has previously won Gold Gloves. So from that standpoint the trade makes more sense(especially if he hits as well in Seattle as he did in San Antonio), and also acquired some future bullpen help, not to mention someone with some playoff experience.
Bench
Michael Martin - 2B/OF – He is making the Major League minimum. Couple that with good range and speedy wheels, he makes the team as a defensive replacement/pinch runner type.
Alex Cabrera - 1B/LF – 2 years removed from a 30HR/100 RBI season, he was signed for relatively nothing ($845K) to provide backup. He performed decent as a backup ( .283/.348/.471/.819 – 10HR’s – 39 RBI’s – 272 AB’s) last year and will get a similar amount of AB’s this year with Martin starting in AAA, and others needing breathers.
D.T. Jennings - Utility - Acquired late last year, will fill at many positions in an attempt to get him 300+ AB's at the major league level.
The rest of the bench has not yet been finalized.
Bernie Sanchez - C - Brought in as a back up, will play vs lefties to give Murphy a break.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Gerald Stull
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Amid all the hoopla of the Happy Henley retiring, NABCL legend Gerald Stull has also retired. Stull doesn't quite have the same #'s that Fritter does, but he does have 3 MVP's, 3 All Star Selections, and 3 Silver Sluggers, plus he lead Fargo to the World Series in Season 1 earning MVP honors in the playoffs. With all the talk of the Fritter and the Hall, I thought it was only deserving to include Stull-y in the conversation as well.
A poll has been setup to gauge his worthiness.
The Ballad of Happy "The Fritter" Henley
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Happy "The Fritter" Henley, NABCL MVP, teammate, leader, gourmand -- in memorium
Come and listen to a story ‘bout a man named Fritter
Hung up his spikes when his career went in the shi**er
Left San Diego when he was young and fat
Off to parts unknown where he swung a mighty bat
(Helena, that is, Montana, M-T)
Well, in season one, Hap’s the best who ever played
So Combalt said, hey, Hap, we’re gonna trade
Said Ottawa is the place you gonna be
Home of Tim Hortons donuts and their apple pastry
(Fritters that is, sugar glazed, flaky goodness)
In North O-Town, Hap became a major dude
Won the MVP and led the league in Eating Food
Could have spent the off season training really hard
But instead he ate his weight in flour, sweets and lard
(Happy he was, sugar rush, Diabetes)
When it came time to contract, bullet put away his pen
Said, we don’t need chubbos, we need a team of manly men,
Sorry, there, fat boy, but you’re looking kinda shi**y,
So why don't you take your act and sign with Kansas City?
(KC, that is, land of pork, Bar B Q)
So that’s how Henley became the man called Fritter
Used to hit all pitches, slider, cutter, and the splitter
The problem wasn’t steroids, HGH or even Clear
Poor Henley went through donuts the way Jose goes through beer
(Cases, that is, Mega Amounts, Mass Quantities)
So long, Fritter. You'll be missed.
*************************************
taken from the forum post "The Ballad of Happy The Fritter Henley" by jose_can_u_c
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