Monday, February 11, 2008

Little Rock Preview

GuerillaZen1

Big, big changes in Little Rock this season. After winning 308 games in the first three seasons (and never falling below 101 or rising above 105 wins) the tides MIGHT be turning for Rebels. The team is getting much older and has already began to clean house and make room for the next batch of minor leaguers.
Staff stalwart and winner of 50 career games (3 seasons) has been dealt to intra-league rival Minnesota for two young arms.
Sliver slugger winner and All-star Darwin Cook has been dealt for a defensive minded shortstop prospect.
Youngster Wayne Banks will be inserted from opening day to help sure-up the offense and 27 year old, 56 game winner, and 2-time NL CY YOUNG champion Rico Perez has been awarded the richest and longest contract in team history, which should keep the rotation near the middle of the pack.
The Rebels will not win 105 games this season and will fight for their playoff life, but they do expect to be competitive in the National League South, where the competition is slowly getting much, much stronger.

Minnesota Trade Update

Loons get No. 1 starter Cruz!!!!!

In a 5 player deal with Little Rock, the Loons have added Alberto Cruz. He has 50 career wins in the first three seasons of Feller. His 4.24 ERA is good but the 1.33 WhiP is a better sign. At 33 years old and in the last year of his contract, we are hoping to offer an extension that will allow Alberto to retire a Loon.

The departure of my 1st rnd draft picks from seasons' 1 and 2, Clarence Jacquez and Alex Campbell was tough, but I think it will be worth it.

Awards through Season 3

thought I'd place the league awards here and the league members can comment on them. I'll update them as each season passes.

AL MVP Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Davey Fasano new york meade_2004
Season 2 Domingo Guapo Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 3 Dennis Pratt Cans of Corn mattfurjan

AL Cy Young Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Steve Sherman Lone Stars yanks0218
Season 2 Houston Vernon Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 3 Hades Reynolds Spartans jwillcox

AL Rookie of the Year Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Mike Newfield Seals bradydt
Season 2 Don Kell Nationals gidoni13
Season 3 Dingo Banks Nationals gidoni13

AL Fireman of the Year Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Timothy White Mud Hens kevmax100
Season 2 Philip Wright Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 3 D'Angelo Marichal Sea Dogs cj_stevie

NL MVP Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 2 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 3 Endy Ramsey Nexus square2

NL Cy Young Award

Season 1 Rico Perez Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 2 Charlie Kelly Splittin' Aces doontristy
Season 3 Rico Perez Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1

NL Rookie of the Year Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 2 Paul Robinson Nexus square2
Season 3 Matt Michaels Splittin' Aces doontristy

NL Fireman of the Year Award
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Alan Grey Nexus square2
Season 2 Sidney Kashmir Splittin' Aces doontristy
Season 3 Louie Ardoin Latchkey Monkeys plessburglar

AL Silver Slugger Award - DH
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ralph Lyon Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 2 Troy Brown ReDawgs BostonDawg
Season 3 Kerry Jensen Seals bradydt

AL Silver Slugger Award - C
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Willie Castillo new york meade_2004
Season 2 Del Cubillan Lone Stars yanks0218
Season 3 Milton Stokes Seals bradydt

AL Silver Slugger Award - 1B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Davey Fasano new york meade_2004
Season 2 Jae Maeda Roadrunners quantum76
Season 3 P.T. Cortazar Seals bradydt

AL Silver Slugger Award - 2B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Peter Sakamoto Gamblers gator993
Season 2 Domingo Guapo Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 3 Rico Rosa Seals bradydt

AL Silver Slugger Award - 3B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Gregory Brower Roadrunners quantum76
Season 2 Gregory Brower Roadrunners quantum76
Season 3 Vic Miranda Clippers job314

AL Silver Slugger Award - SS
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 James Lo Roadrunners quantum76
Season 2 James Lo Roadrunners quantum76
Season 3 Don Kell Nationals gidoni13

AL Silver Slugger Award - LF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Mike Newfield Seals bradydt
Season 2 Hensley Lawson Armadillos rmkelley15
Season 3 Chad Beckett Clippers job314

AL Silver Slugger Award - CF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Rod Mahoney Sidewinders pak4427
Season 2 Daryl Perkins Stranglers acatala
Season 3 Steven Mussina Melanoma jwesty5

AL Silver Slugger Award - RF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Jay Malone Roadrunners quantum76
Season 2 Dennis Pratt Cans of Corn mattfurjan
Season 3 Dennis Pratt Cans of Corn mattfurjan

NL Silver Slugger Award - P
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Geoffery McInerney Abnaki hhavey
Season 2 Julio Trevino Durham Bulls cortezd
Season 3 Claude Doerr Latchkey Monkeys plessburglar

NL Silver Slugger Award - C
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 2 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 3 Rock Moore Silent Assassins ARomano

NL Silver Slugger Award - 1B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Darwin Cook Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 2 Cooper Fischer Splittin' Aces doontristy
Season 3 Deivi Mendez Nexus square2

NL Silver Slugger Award - 2B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Adam Miles freeze ggd1022
Season 2 Rogers Peterson Durham Bulls cortezd
Season 3 Elroy Williamson Polecats frik

NL Silver Slugger Award - 3B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Sammy Harris Pirates typhoon26
Season 2 Charles Perry Latchkey Monkeys plessburglar
Season 3 Angel Polonia Red Wings TheGator

NL Silver Slugger Award - SS
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Angel Polonia Red Wings TheGator
Season 2 Angel Polonia Red Wings TheGator
Season 3 Vernon Hunter Surfers Dave062451

NL Silver Slugger Award - LF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Endy Ramsey Nexus square2
Season 2 Endy Ramsey Nexus square2
Season 3 Endy Ramsey Nexus square2

NL Silver Slugger Award - CF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Frank Barrett Alex Gordon's ewchippe
Season 2 Henry Bell Scandals orabbi
Season 3 Matt Michaels Splittin' Aces doontristy

NL Silver Slugger Award - RF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Anthony Buehrle Tall Firs agentverde
Season 2 Richie Paul Splittin' Aces doontristy
Season 3 Richie Paul Splittin' Aces doontristy

AL Gold Glove Award - P
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ralph Davis Lone Stars yanks0218
Season 2 Russell Broome Mud Hens kevmax100
Season 3 Pedro Martin Sea Dogs cj_stevie

AL Gold Glove Award - C
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Marty Williams Roadrunners quantum76
Season 2 Marty Williams Roadrunners quantum76
Season 3 Jose Olmeda Spartans jwillcox

AL Gold Glove Award - 1B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Juan Mesa Sea Dogs cj_stevie
Season 2 Ron Benson Snowbirds drnick77
Season 3 P.T. Cortazar Seals bradydt

AL Gold Glove Award - 2B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ruben Diaz new york meade_2004
Season 2 Travis Strickland Melanoma jwesty5
Season 3 Francisco Rodriguez Mud Hens kevmax100

AL Gold Glove Award - 3B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Woody Cannon Seals bradydt
Season 2 Benji Olivo Armadillos rmkelley15
Season 3 Trent Welch Melanoma jwesty5

AL Gold Glove Award - SS
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Richard Mills Cans of Corn mattfurjan
Season 2 Douglas Park Melanoma jwesty5
Season 3 Douglas Park Melanoma jwesty5

AL Gold Glove Award - LF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ismael Mondesi Clippers job314
Season 2 Fred Leach Dirty Old Men bobkordecki
Season 3 Javier Machado Cans of Corn mattfurjan

AL Gold Glove Award - CF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ralph Hines Lone Stars yanks0218
Season 2 Shawon Campbell Snowbirds drnick77
Season 3 Rogers Floyd Ponies sidekicker

AL Gold Glove Award - RF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Del Chiba ReDawgs BostonDawg
Season 2 Christian Zheng Hummers 7Yankees7
Season 3 Tommy Newfield Krushers itsmedennis

NL Gold Glove Award - P
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Wilton Moore Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 2 Felipe Moreno Latchkey Monkeys plessburglar
Season 3 Ralph Davis Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1

NL Gold Glove Award - C
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Bronson Terrell freeze ggd1022
Season 2 Bronson Terrell Scandals orabbi
Season 3 Bronson Terrell C'est Moi! crehling

NL Gold Glove Award - 1B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Gregg Lindsey Warriors itsjimmy91
Season 2 Mickey Fisher Tall Firs agentverde
Season 3 Deivi Mendez Nexus square2

NL Gold Glove Award - 2B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Adam Miles freeze ggd1022
Season 2 Rogers Peterson Durham Bulls cortezd
Season 3 Tony Jacobs Kings trapapoodle

NL Gold Glove Award - 3B
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Milton Oliver Red Wings TheGator
Season 2 Leonardo Hill Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 3 Edgar Velazquez Kings trapapoodle

NL Gold Glove Award - SS
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Phil Gibbons Power Loons ebpyle
Season 2 McKay Forbes Tall Firs agentverde
Season 3 McKay Forbes Tall Firs agentverde

NL Gold Glove Award - LF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Ruben Lira Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 2 Rodney Duckworth Silent Assassins ARomano
Season 3 Endy Ramsey Nexus square2

NL Gold Glove Award - CF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Jeremy Hughes Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 2 Jeremy Hughes Southern Rebels GuerillaZen1
Season 3 Vic Cummings Power Loons ebpyle

NL Gold Glove Award - RF
Player Franchise Owner
Season 1 Shaggy O'Brien BlueNotes rpsrn
Season 2 Pablo Guzman Power Loons ebpyle
Season 3 Anthony Buehrle Tall Firs agentverde



Award leaders through three seasons are as follows;

New Britain - 9 awards from 4 players
4 Silver Sluggers
2 Gold Gloves
1 ROY
1 MVP
1 Fireman

Little Rock - 9 awards from 7 players
1 Silver Slugger
6 Gold Gloves
2 Cy Youngs

Santa Fe / Atlanta - 8 awards from 5 players
6 Silver Sluggers
2 Gold Gloves

San Francisco - 8 awards from 6 players
5 Silver Sluggers
2 Gold Gloves
1 ROY

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Minnesota Playoff Review

3 and out.

That was the Loons' fate for my first playoff series. All three games were close, but a loss is a loss. The team to take me out (Las Vegas) appears on their way to the WS as the NL rep. They need to beat Salem first, but the question that bothers the Loons is this;

Where would we be if we had just outbid Vegas for the services of Steve Cameron. 3Yrs-$50 min for a 35 yr old pitcher still seems too much, but he is in the NLCS and I'm not.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Minnesota Season 3 Review

Season 3 end of year update!!!!!!!!!!!

The Loons are in!!

My first Division title came down to the last series of the season. Montreal put up a huge comeback, but a win in game 2 clinched. Here is some Loon info from the season;

Finished the season 86-76, 2 games up.

Three of the top 5 hitters (Avg.) in the NL were from the Loons.

Vic Cummings (CF, 27yrs) - .329 / 123runs / 18hrs / 89rbi
Also led the team with 36 steals. Vic won the batting crown. He has been a do-it-all player. Made his 1st ML All-Star appearance and is a finalist for league MVP.

Tony Soto (3B, 27yrs) - .327 / 93 / 30 / 131
Tony had an impressive rookie season. As a finalist for ROY (Cummings did it in Season 2) Tony homered twice in the division clinching game. Is deserving of the GG with 3 errors (.988 fielding) but appears to have been snubbed.

Pablo Guzman (RF, 25yrs) - .320 / 113 / 28 / 110
Pablo had a great 2nd season raising his BA from .268 and almost doubling his HR output. He did most of his damage from the lead-off spot. Had 18 steals.

Greg Cobb (2B, 26yrs) - .302 / 82 / 3 / 49
Greg resurrected his career by taking over the 2B spot early in the season. Originally a CF (Season 1), Greg was a backup in season 2. The loss of Gryboski to another ST injury forced the Loons to look for his replacement. Greg also stole 27 bases and did all this from the #9 spot behind the pitcher.

Thomas Cannon (Util, 31yrs) - .298 / 70 / 36 / 87
Thomas, as Cobb, had a change of position this season. Primarily playing 3B in season 2, he played 1B, 2B, 3B, LF and RF in Season 3. Lead team with a career high 36 HR's on just 363 AB's. Resigned for season 4 with the hopes that this can continue.

Patrick Stockton (C, 24yrs) - .290 / 69 / 16 / 79
A rule 5 pick taken from the Montreal franchise proved his worth. Patrick provided some consistancy and power from a position the Loons had struggled with. Hope to see more from him next season.

Mark Freeman (SS, 24 yrs)
Also a rule 5 pick from Pittsburgh(divisional foe), he played well in a limited role hitting .281 while filling in all over. Looks to replace Gibbons at SS in season 4

Pasqual Guillen (1B, 26yrs) - .277 / 73 / 32 / 96
Finished strong after a slow start cost him his job. Ended up finishing 2nd on the team in HR's and 3rd in RBI's. Would love to see him explode next season.

Robert McGee (LF, 22 yrs) - .271 / 93 / 28 / 92
Robert had a good rookie season and could really make a good splash next season. has power to all fields, but K's can be a problem (led team with 121)

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Minnesota In Season Update

Power Loon update;

At 60-53, the Loons are still holding the 1st spot in the North. That spot is closely challenged by Montreal and unless my pitching improves, they'll take it right back.

The starters are 34-35 with a .263 OBA

The Long Relief is 15-9 @.271

The Set-up is 11-9 @.276

Thank god for the trade for Timothy White. He is 14-14 in save opprotunities since coming to the Loons. His new nickname is "Its' Over" because that is what it is when he comes in.

Year 3 Standings Update

Standing update;

In the AL, Columbus has regained the top spot in the North. At 68-45 (8 gm up), the Clippers are looking to take their show back to the playoffs. Pitching and defense are driving them this season, while getting just enough offense to do the trick.

The East has been a revolving door at the top. Currently the DC Nationals have the honors @ 66-47 (6 games up). Second in the league in runs scored and 5th in ERA, the nationals have a very balanced attack.

Texas is again leading the South. After climbing out of the cellar in season 1 to a division championship in season 2, the Armadillos (59-54) are 2 games up. Leading the league in fielding and 3rd in hitting has helped overcome the 11th rated pitching staff.

San Francisco is leading the West by 11 games @ 71-42. 2nd in batting and 1st in pitching has put the seals in a great spot late into the season. This is a step up from last season, where the Seals were hovering the bottom of the division.

The NL doesn't have as much of the volitivity of the AL;

The East is again dominated by New Britain. For the 3rd year in a row, the Nexus @ 64-49, are in a commanding position. This team hits well (2nd in NL) and scores runs. They are 7 games up on the Monkey's from Buffalo.

Little Rock is running away with the South. This team has won this division each of the 1st 2 years and at 76-37 (20 games up) looks to have no trouble again this year. 1st in pitching, 4th in batting and 5th in fielding Makes the Rebels the favorite this season.

Salem has made a good run out of the West. At 69-44 (7 games up), they ar pitching well (2nd in NL) and hit just well enough to drive you nuts. They are 5-5 against Little Rock this season and could be the David that could upset Goliath.

Last and probably least is the NL North. The Power loons are 60-53 (4 games up) on a division that took until the 76th game for anyone to be above .500. The Loons are 14th in pitching, 5th in fielding and 1st in hitting. If there is anything I can be happy with, it's the fact we are in contention this season (2.5 years in the making).