tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49017549564759434792023-06-20T08:46:50.794-04:00Canseco Courierbboydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04750489568879754400noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-11298500645463235972010-12-24T17:29:00.003-05:002010-12-24T18:22:40.127-05:00Free Agency Preview: Starting Pitchers<div align="center"><strong>TOP STARTING PITCHER</strong></div><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: grey 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: grey 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4; WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 189px; BORDER-TOP: grey 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: grey 1px solid"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race1/Age20/1201079.jpg); POSITION: relative; WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 129px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 14px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/none.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779971" target="_blank">Doug Minor</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><p>Doug Minor is clearly the top SP in this year's FA market. Minor is a true ace. Over ten seasons Minor has compiled a record of 148-91, with an ERA of 3.47. Like some of the other free agents on the market, Minor's age is a concern. However, in ten seasons Minor has never made a trip to the disabled list. Minor is considered a true work horse, finishing only one season with under 200 innings.</p><p>Potential Suitors: Washington D.C., New Orleans, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Helena, Sioux Falls, Mexico City</p><p>Prediction: 5 years, $90 million</p><p>After Doug Minor, it's a pretty thin market for starting pitchers. </p><p>The market includes:</p><p></p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147762" target="_blank">Mario Swift</a> </p><p>Prediction: 4 years, $29 million</p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779217" target="_blank">Jared Valent</a> </p><p>Prediction: 2 years, $12 million</p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780022" target="_blank">Matty Tracy</a> </p><p>Prediction: 3 years, $20 million</p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1882176" target="_blank">Napoleon Scalici</a></p><p>Prediction: 3 years, $18 million </p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780353" target="_blank">Omar Bolivar</a> </p><p>Prediction: 2 years, $9 million</p><p></p><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1777968" target="_blank">Brant Arnold</a> </p><p>Prediction: 4 years, $24 million</p>EKoontzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17490905857721653741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-86912831920046308172010-12-23T20:24:00.004-05:002010-12-24T13:45:44.242-05:00Season 11 Free Agency Preview<div align="left"><strong>It's time to kick off coverage of the season 11 Winter Meetings in Canseco. First off, the free agency preview!!</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>TOP POSITION PLAYERS</strong> </div><div align="left"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: grey 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: grey 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4; WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 189px; BORDER-TOP: grey 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: grey 1px solid"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race1/Age20/1200330.jpg); POSITION: relative; WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 129px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 14px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/none.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779584" target="_blank">Willis Coleman</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div align="left"><br /><br />If you're looking to acquire a big time impact bat for your line up, look no further. Willis Coleman can do it all. Willis hits for average, power, and can even steal 30+ bases a year. At 32, his age is a bit of a concern, however we don't expect that to stop him from becoming the highest paid position player this off season.</div><br /><p>Potential Suitors: New Orleans, New York, Washington DC, Hartford, Mexico City, Albuquerque, Helena.</p><p></p><p>Prediction: 5 years, $80 million<br /></p><br /><p></p><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: grey 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: grey 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4; WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 189px; BORDER-TOP: grey 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: grey 1px solid"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race1/Age20/1200086.jpg); POSITION: relative; WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 129px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 14px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/none.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780133" target="_blank">Charles Hemphill</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><p>Charles "Big Chuck" Hemphill is the top 3B on the market. Hemphill is known for his gold glove caliber defense over at 3B. After putting up a career year with the bat, ( .336, 27 HR's, 105 RBI's) Hemphill looks to cash in at this year's winter meetings.</p><p>Potential Suitors: Boston, Washington D.C, Helena, Albuquerque.</p><p>Prediction: 4 years, $38 million</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: grey 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: grey 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4; WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 189px; BORDER-TOP: grey 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: grey 1px solid"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race4/Age20/4200265.jpg); POSITION: relative; WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 129px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 14px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/none.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1795692" target="_blank">Felipe Navarro</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><p>Felipe Navarro is by far the youngest high profile free agent. At 28, most scouts feel that Felipe has his best years ahead of him. Navarro has not missed a game since season 8.</p><br /><p>Potential Suitors: Boston, Washington D.C., Helena, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Durham, Cincinnati</p><br /><p>Prediction: 5 years, $40 million<br /></p><p></p><br /><p></p><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: grey 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: grey 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4; WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 189px; BORDER-TOP: grey 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: grey 1px solid"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><div style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race1/Age20/1201268.jpg); POSITION: relative; WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; HEIGHT: 129px; TOP: 13px; LEFT: 14px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/none.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1778856" target="_blank">Kyle Briggs</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><p>Kyle Briggs might be the biggest power threat in this years FA class. Briggs has averaged almost 38 HR's a year in his 8 season career. Like Coleman, Brigg's age is a bit of a concern, however we don't see that stopping him from getting a lucrative contract this off season.</p><br /><p>Potential Suitors: Durham, Helena, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Boston, Cincinnati, Florida, Hartford</p><br /><p>Prediction: 3 years, $20 million</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><p>Potential Steals: </p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780031" target="_blank">Miguel Rivera</a></p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780580" target="_blank">Jacob Sasaki</a> </p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780340" target="_blank">Todd McIntyre</a></p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1778974" target="_blank">Donatello Guerrero</a> </p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779938" target="_blank">Yorvit Reyes</a> </p><br /><p><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780231" target="_blank">Justin Campbell</a> </p><p></p><p>Free agency is a crucial part of the off season and signing a key free agent could potentially make or break your season. Which position players will cash in big this off season?? We will find out shortly.</p>EKoontzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17490905857721653741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-22314492287874087872010-03-08T10:21:00.003-05:002010-03-08T10:38:50.160-05:00An end of an era in Cleveland...<div style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 1px solid; WIDTH: 150px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid; HEIGHT: 189px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ecebd4"><table style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; FONT-FAMILY: Tacoma" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/PlayerProfile/franchise_player.gif); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 148px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; HEIGHT: 154px"><div style="LEFT: 14px; BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Race4/Age20/4200656.jpg); WIDTH: 120px; BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat; POSITION: relative; TOP: 13px; HEIGHT: 129px"><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/Headshots/Jerseys/Cleveland.gif" /></div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; COLOR: black; PADDING-TOP: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd" target="_blank">Hardball Dynasty's</a></td></tr><tr><td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779604" target="_blank">Al Garrido</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br />With the finalizing of the trade with the Dark Knights, Cleveland fans bid a heartfelt goodbye to the face of the franchise for seven season, <a style="COLOR: black" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779604" target="_blank">Al Garrido</a>. The 3 time MVP and 7 time All-Star had made it known that he intended to explore Free Agency after this season. Pronkster management, who have been accused of not planning well for the future, felt it was in the best long-term interest of the club to strike a deal which benefits both Garrido, who will now be able to realistically make a run for a WS title to add to his HOF resume, and the future of the Pronksters. Best Wishes to the G-Man, arguably the greatest player in Canseco history.mytitanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01471707450800980482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-17453662313525451922010-02-22T17:28:00.002-05:002010-02-22T18:00:23.572-05:00Royal Rumblings the Fnal ChapterThe LCS didn't turn out in our favor. The starting pitchers gave up too many early runs and the offense struggled to catch up falling short twice. They played hard but it just wasn't to be. Good Luck to Minnesota as they will need it. <br /><br />This is my last season here as this World will fall too late into the month of May for my real life schedule. I leave the team in pretty good shape as I used all my remaining prospect money to sign the remaining draft picks and picked up as many decent players I could in the IFA market. I promoted as many players as I could, hopefully not too many will retire, at least there will be a large young pool to fill the gaps. This is the only World I have been in where minor league filler position players are hard to find. Got rid of as many dregs as I dared also.<br /><br />The team doesn't have any bad contracts and there is four or five expiring contracts that the new GM can decide whether to resign them or not. IMO, only one or two is desirable, the main one needed wants to try FA, go figure. There are several in arbitration but shouldn't be too costly if done right. <br /><br />As for Ed Wood, I would try to trade him to an AL team as that is the place for him, as a DH. <br /><br />The farm system isn't bad, just not much in the way of ML caliber players. The HiA team did win the World Series after all and the AA and LoA teams were in the playoffs. <br /><br />The World itself is pretty good, good owners that try hard to win. Relatively drama free with lots of friendly rivalries. <br /><br />So long all and have a great upcoming season.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-4783412754568976482010-02-19T20:25:00.003-05:002010-02-19T20:53:01.036-05:00Another Royal Rumble PostDid the injury help us win? I seem to think it did in my opinion but we will never know for sure. Hard to replace a #3 or #4 hitter in the lineup on the fly. After the injury, pitching ruled the rest of the series as I had just enough offense to win against a great pitching staff.<br /><br />Minnesota may not be pleased about the outcome however. Now they get their hated division rivals. I didn't pay much attention to their schedule as I may have been the only team to have a winning record against them in the regular season. That of course doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the LCS. What does matter, 2 of the best pitching staffs in the NL go at it once again. We have to find a way to shut down the #1 NL offense while the Bashers get lucky enough to go against #6. They already shut down the #2 NL offense so we know it isn't going to be easy.<br /><br />In the AL, I thought the Goats would have won at least one game against Dover. The Rage and Mexico City had a see-saw battle which could have gone either way. Now the LCS comes down to the two best teams. After looking things over, I would say Mexico City has the edge but this is the playoffs and anything can and will happen.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-79273959451064733072010-02-17T23:12:00.003-05:002010-02-18T00:55:44.484-05:00Royal Rumble ReasoningFor those of you who don't understand the reasoning behind the <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779167" target="_blank">Oscar Chang</a> moves and think he is a great pitcher, I will explain my actions. Yes, he is a great pitcher, his record indicates that and probably a better starter than closer. But I have a 7 year history with Oscar which means I know him much better. <br /><br />For one he had 17 starts this season, 15 of those he registered well over 100 pitches per game and 120+ innings, nothing out of the ordinary really. Two of the games he was pulled early for elbow and shoulder problems. They weren't serious and didn't cause him to miss a start but....First one you wouldn't pay much attention to, the second however, should raise a big red flag. After the second one I let him start one more game and he got shelled in Washington of all places, no offense I hope, as it is more of a pitchers park. Ok, so more or less he was being over used. <br /><br />I pulled him out of the rotation and was going to use him as a long reliever for a while just to rest him a bit. The team was sputtering and something had to be done. This was when I was making a deep analysis of my team during the All-Star break. You don't want to make too many sudden moves all at once or it will upset the chemistry of the team. <br /><br /><a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779161" target="_blank">Karim Parra</a> was the closer at the time. He had an 0-3 record and had 18 of 20 saves, sounds relatively good doesn't it? His ERA wasn't overly great for a closer at 3.76 but adequate. The WHIP and OAV was astronomical though for a closer. I tried <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780718" target="_blank">Julio Torres</a> as the closer for a couple games but he failed miserably and was better at getting a starter out of a jam. Thus Oscar got the job whether he or I liked it or not by default. I tried him as a two inning closer but the stress got to him. He really doesn't make that good of a closer either.<br /><br />I actually had run out of options for the closer position and what I like to see in ratings at that position. Beyond most of every ones thinking, a closer should have control of 85 and up, a high GB rating with the first two pitches in the 80's minimum, getting one can be hard. Real good splits are a plus but good even splits are adequate. Velocity I am not concerned with at all in any pitcher beyond most peoples belief. <br /><br />Actually I am not all that thrilled with Oscar as a starter or closer. I have never understood my team when he starts, they don't provide offense for him. He either gets shelled somewhat or they end up as very low 1 or 2 run victories, always have and probably always will. Secondly and what makes him have problems is a WIS joke to keep him in check so he isn't a Cy Yong pitcher every year. If you notice his pitches you will see the problem. If his second and third pitch was reversed he would be unbeatable I think. To combat that problem you need good PC catchers to have a chance and a good pitchers park and I have both. Since his stats are Cy Young quality other than W/L record, you can't do much more if the offense doesn't show up.<br /><br />For the record I have a very good pitching staff as the stats show, I think Anaheim has the best pitching staff of all. The pitching staff and defense gave up the fewest runs of any team. The offense was 6th in the NL at scoring runs, though the sudden 11 game outburst after the All-Star break had something to do with that in my opinion.<br /><br />As for the playoff series with Anaheim, it could still go either way. A split in the first two games was crucial. Anaheim's loss of <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1776742" target="_blank">Taylor Romero</a> to injury could be devastating as they are not a great hitting team. It will turn out to be which offense gets to the pitching behemoths first. Whichever team it is looks likely to be rewarded with Minnesota as Scottsdales' proverbial backs are up against the wall.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-67402276579365733942010-02-15T12:17:00.003-05:002010-02-15T14:54:56.561-05:00Royal Rumblings Playoffs 1Everything went great for the Royal Rumble in round 1 of the playoffs. The best part, the players will be rested after the sweep of the Dingo's. I really didn't expect a sweep of a team I have generally had problems with. Matter of fact, I expected losing the series in 5 games at best. We move on to play the Anaheim Sluggers. The regular season saw the Rumble humble the Sluggers 7-3, but I don't expect that kind of reception in the Playoffs.<br /><br />What has the Royal Rumble done so differently this season to right the ship? Well, for one I never paid much attention to defense through much of the season. It wasn't that I was playing players out of position, more or less weak at the position and their hitting was not making up the difference. Actually I was very sick much of the season, so paying attention to what was really going on was very minimal.<br /><br />In a nutshell most of the games were being lost late. To figure out what was wrong I had to analyze what was going on. <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1776625" target="_blank">Orval Varitek</a> had 16 errors at 3B, but 9 plus plays. The 16 errors bothered me and couldn't figure out the reason even after looking at the box scores. <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1778220" target="_blank">Esteban Izturis</a> also had 16 errors, not really uncommon at SS as his somewhat weak glove can cause that. <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2312285" target="_blank">Alex Flores</a> had 13 errors at 2B which also could be because he is a little under-rated in the glove department. The three had a combined 37 plus plays and 1 minus play though. That told me the major infield positions wasn't the problem.<br /><br />However, the combination of <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1777006" target="_blank">Vic Seneca</a> playing RF and <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1882223" target="_blank">Ed Wood</a> playing 1B did turn out to be a huge problem and probably contributed to the errors of the other 3.<br /><br />Wood really doesn't have the efficiency to play 1B all that well but his big bat should help the cause. 3 errors and 5 plus plays with 6 minus plays doesn't sound all that bad but his offense didn't cover enough as to what happened to the other players on defense. <br /><br />Seneca didn't play a very good RF this season either, 5 errors and 7 minus plays with 0 plus plays. His arm is good enough to play the position but that didn't even garner a plus play. <br /><br />So with Wood out of the lineup and Seneca playing 1B, things changed. Seneca had 0 errors and 4 plus plays at 1B in 37 games. The errors from the other 3 went very minimal in that time frame. One of the problems solved. <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2353564" target="_blank">Brett Stohr</a> was inserted into RF to fill the vacancy, his range and glove are very good for the position but his somewhat weak arm was a concern. <br /><br />To make up for the short fall of power in the lineup, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2742338" target="_blank">Tito Yamakazi</a> was quickly promoted to AA to get some higher level AB's in before being promoted to the majors before the playoff roster deadline. Although I consider him still weak at the position, a work in progress so to speak, I had no other choices as I needed another power bat with Wood out of the lineup. <br /><br /><a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779407" target="_blank">Aubrey Speaker</a> was the odd man out in this move unfortunately for him, just to give Tito playing time. Comparing the two and their regular season play looked like a bad move in the end. Speaker actually had a pretty decent season, though his hitting was a bit off in the BB to SO ratio and his average was down some. The power from Tito never materialized until the playoffs though. <br /><br />The pen was a sore spot as they couldn't do anything right. Changing the Manager settings cleared most of that up, getting the bench in the game defensively. Also it didn't hurt that I picked up <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779450" target="_blank">Lorenzo Borbon</a> and <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780196" target="_blank">Armando Rincon</a> who were sitting unmolested in the FA pool. That allowed me to move three under-performers out to greener pastures in AAA. <br /><br /><a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779167" target="_blank">Oscar Chang</a> had been complaining about a sore arm and shoulder early in the season. As usual when he pitched, the offense was no where to be found. He normally buckles down in the second part of the season to make him a Cy Young candidate. He had already pitched a lot of innings and nothing much to show for it and I needed a Closer. So to rest him and still use him effectively it was off to Closer school. All of those playoff appearances as a starter under his belt he had only ever won one game, so no loss there. You would think that he would make a shut down Closer, but au contraire. His performance in the role is far from exceptional as 0-2 with 23 saves out of 27 opportunities may sound good but many of the performances were actually a far cry from good even. <br /><br />Basically most of the last 40 games was back to Spring Training with a never give up attitude. The catch is to identify the problem and try to solve it the best you can without destroying team chemistry. After all the moves, I don't think the team gelled together until the last 10 games of the season and it was just enough to make the playoffs. Did all the changes make a big difference in the playoff against Tampa Bay? I seem to think it did and may have took the Dingo by surprise. Will the way I play the Sluggers change from the Dingos, Probably!<br /><br />As for the the other three sweeps by the Wild Card teams. I was surprised that New York completely shut down Arizona. Three shutouts in the Playoffs? Chicago out hitting Hartford wasn't that much of a surprise, the sweep was. Scottsdale's sweep of Burlington wasn't actually a real surprise but shutting down the Burlington offense in Scottsdale was.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-71692147349191842242010-02-13T13:07:00.003-05:002010-02-13T14:07:54.619-05:00Royal Rumblings IIII didn't get around to posting team happenings after the 20 game stretch. Was 12-8 in the stretch but it kept me in the hunt for the playoffs. It finally donned on me why I was having problems winning 1-run games. A minor change to the Manager settings and suddenly I am 22-29 in 1-run games, vast improvement from 15-26 I would say. So what was the change? I know everyone wants to know. The old configuration wasn't allowing my bench to get in the game. Sounds a bit ludicrous right? Why would I want my bench players in the game and take offense away. Most generally I was winning the game before losing it that is why. I needed my backup defensive PC catcher in the game and he wasn't getting there. 12 points of pitch calling and a much better defense has more meaning to me in tight games and to the pen it seems. The rest of the players coming in late is not going to have that much of an adverse effect defensively or offensively for that matter. Also it got me to wondering if they may have put an upper level cap on 1-run games so I did some checking in other worlds. It seems it is possible that it could be 55 as I found a bunch of those but never found one over 55.<br /><br />So here I set with 1 game to play in the regular season and suddenly find myself with a 1 game lead for the last wild card spot. The final 17 games had my nerves in an uproar believe it or not. Losing 2 of 3 to Minnesota didn't help. Then losing 3 of 4 to Austin, I got the pepto out. I was actually resting some players, they needed it, but it was disheartening. Another small change to the Manager settings and I was back in business taking 3 of 4 from Helena. Then took 2 of three from arch-rival Chicago. It should have been a sweep if you ask me. What happened in the loss threw me for a second, couldn't figure out the lineup from the box score to the one I supposedly had in place. Something I had never seen before happened, mostly because I don't let it happen. The sim auto rested my tired players. Ok, so now I had to change the auto rest feature for position players something that I have never had to do before, except for pitchers. <br /><br />So after a decidedly disastrous start to the final 17 games, I have finished with an 8-2 run that I am pretty sure has put me in the playoffs as the #6 seed. I am resting my players anyway in the final game of the season. The reason, a 1 game lead and if I did my counting right, I hold the tie-breakers, so if I lose the last game I should back into the playoffs. I know I hold the H2H with Jacksonville 7-3 for the tie breaker with them. Chicago and I are 5-5 H2H but I hold the division record. So I will get Tampa Bay in the first round, egads things never get better but then who said it would be easy?firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-65247129716125187202010-01-31T19:41:00.003-05:002010-01-31T19:55:35.126-05:00Royal Rumblings IIWell, I am back to being bewildered again. After wiping out the division opponents I figured I would win a few in the next 23 game stretch. 10-13 was not my idea of a fun stretch. Scoring 73 runs, what happened to the offense? Only gave up 62 so it probably isn't pitching or defense. I have a wonderful 1-run record also, 15-27, rivaled only by Louisville at 12-26 in frustration.<br /><br />Well, the way I see it things won't get much better. I face one winning team, Anaheim, in the next 20 games. That is right, 17 games against sub 500 teams. You would think I would be happy about that. Problem is I haven't been beating these teams, so why would it change now? <br /><br />Oh well, back to the sludge pool and see what shakes out.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-41284279997218626812010-01-23T20:03:00.002-05:002010-01-23T20:40:37.643-05:00Royal RumblingsBefore the All-Star break my team looked dismal and couldn't beat anyone, well, except Jacksonville. They were bewildered, I was bewildered. The only thing I could figure out was, we had 46 losses and 21 of those were by 1-run. Then after the All-Star break I changed the lineup a little. Opened up against the Dark Knights at home, oh great another 1-run loss. I was ready to throw in the towel as I had no clue as to why and 16 games behind Minnesota. We were still strong enough to make a run at a wild card maybe, but the way we had been playing I doubted that even.<br /><br />Next thing I know, we mopped up the division with that towel I threw in. Never saw it coming. No way, no how. We went into Minnesota with a sudden 7 game win streak. I figured this series would end it all right away. But no, we humiliated them on their home field, the fans actually booed them off the field. With a 16-0 shellacking to start the series and a 10-1 thumping to end it, easy to understand the fans resentment. I think that has been their worst two defeats all season. <br /><br />Suddenly we are on a 10 game win streak and closed the gap from 16 games to 10. And we also caught Chicago in the mean time. We scored 86 runs in those 10 games, 10 or more in 5 of them with 3 shutout victories. <br /><br />Other than the little change the lineup, I picked up <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779450" target="_blank">Lorenzo Borbon</a> from the FA scrap heap to replace a pen pitcher that was in my dog house. He hasn't even gotten a chance to pitch as the starters have been going deep into games with little worry and the short relief has been shutting everything down all of a sudden. Of course it is relatively easy when you have comfy leads to start with.<br /><br />Not sure what changed, but I am not complaining and hope it continues.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-43633732886821463582009-09-08T11:09:00.004-04:002009-09-08T12:23:37.416-04:00For the New Owners and OldSpring Training is time to get the rust off the Vets and give some ML experience for the minor league players that have a ML future. This is some of the do's and don'ts.<br /><br />Starting Pitchers, set their TPC and MPC so they pitch no more than 3 or 4 innings max. You really want their IP total some where near 10. The same can be said for the pen, but here you want about 8 IPs'. Also you don't want your starters pitching in the last two Spring Training games if you can help it, especially opening day and day 2 starters. When Spring Training ends there are no off days where pitchers can rest before the start of the season, even for the minors.<br /><br />Starting Positions, play them about 25 AB's, catchers about 20 AB's or 4 to 5 starts. <br /><br />The reason, if you over extend them in Spring Training, you risk injury and becoming fatigued more easily in regular season games. Other than getting the rust off and getting experience, Spring Training actually has little bearing on how a player will actually perform during the regular season. I have seen players that hit .350 in Spring Training and barely hit .250 in the regular season.<br /><br />For those that don't know, fatigue is not based on AB's but PA's. A PA report can be gotten through the Player's Statistics using the extended function. This formula: (730 * .Durability = approximate PA's during the season) It is pretty close to accurate. Normally about mid season is when players may go into fatigue status if they do not have any regular game days off. BTW, Spring Training Games count. Normally those with a durability with 85 and above are not that prone to go into fatigue status unless they hit in slot 1 thru 5, because these lineup slots receive the most PA's. Those with durability below 80 is the ones that you must worry about the most and need the most game days off.<br /><br />For those that need help setting a lineup, I have found this the most convenient way of doing it.<br /><br />Slot 1 - Your best OBP guy that is not a power hitter. Speed is a plus but not necessary.<br />Slot 2 - I put in the guy on the roster that has the best walk to strike out ratio that is not a true power hitter.<br />Slot 3 - Can vary a little, you can either put in your best AVG hitter (second best if you used him for slot 1) or your best power hitter.<br />Slot 4, 5, 6 or (3 thru 6) - Needs to have your best power hitters.<br />Slot 7, 8, (9) - The remaining. I would suggest Contact over Eye then adjust after the first 20 games for best fit. <br /><br />The object is to get runners on so the power hitters get them home with the long ball otherwise you get a lot of solo shots.<br /><br />Minor league pitching fatigue happens but we frown on constant dead pitching. The best way to combat it is to have five starters and 4 long relievers that could be starters and maybe 1 inactive. It doesn't matter how good they are as long as they can chew up innings when needed. Also you can have spare pitchers inactive just in case, I usually carry a couple ugly spares. If you try and run a bunch of short relievers, they will get chewed up quick.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-4878311935185912642009-09-05T21:11:00.004-04:002009-09-06T02:45:08.190-04:00Yo Adrian, I did it! - Balboa Cashes InBy KYLE KEOUGH<br /><br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br /><br /><br />Hector Balboa, formerly of the Philadelphia Athletics, was unsurprisingly the prized free agent catch of this off-season. The 30-year-old third baseman agreed to terms yesterday, ending speculation as to where he would finally end up.<br /><br />The lucky recipient? The Arizona Destroyers.<br /><br />This season saw what will soon become an alarming trend come to fruition: players are opting to test free agency rather than sign extensions at a much higher rate than previously experienced. Seasons ago, a player of Balboa's caliber might never have made it to the open market.<br /><br />Now, however, he's raked in the dough as the Destroyers' newest addition. With the franchise's first division title and 96 wins in its immediate rear-view mirror, new owner bpang kept spirits high and proved he was committed to continued success all in one fell swoop.<br /><br />Balboa, 30, is listed as a second baseman, but could very easily play Gold Glove-caliber third base, adequate center field, and occasionally fill in at shortstop. The Destroyers entered the off-season looking for a little offensive help, and they'll more than receive it in Balboa.<br /><br />The pricetag, naturally, will be high. Balboa's 5-year deal is worth an estimated $87.5 million; that's just short of the Courier's prediction of 5 years and $90 million, but still an astronomical sum. Still, the three-time All-Star has proven to be one of the top players in baseball over the course of his career.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-30505670684871831162009-09-05T12:52:00.004-04:002009-09-06T04:56:04.895-04:00Rule 5Ever wonder what another owner looks for in the the Rule 5 setting? This is my personal scouting report on the best players by position.<br /><br />C - After looking over the top 4 catchers, they are really posers. I would consider <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147505" target="_blank">Jim Higgins</a> as a backup and maybe even a starter. May not hit well but he will give the pitchers the best chance of success with his pitch calling and defense. There are a couple others listed way down the list I would consider just as good if you need a quality defensive backup.<br /><br />1B - <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147818" target="_blank">Eddie Reese</a> is rated by my scouts as the best, but I wouldn't even consider drafting him due to fact he is not ready for the ML. <br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2098258" target="_blank">Michael Tamura</a> his hitting and fielding could grow into the position, he is not really ready for ML action and I wouldn't consider drafting him due to his health.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147686" target="_blank">Ryan Moreno</a> is actually the best of the three in my books, he is not ready for the NL either and I wouldn't consider him with his low makeup.<br /><br />2B - <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147835" target="_blank">Junior Mendoza</a> probably comes on most boards as the best but I would only consider him for COF. My board is littered with wannabes but none can play the position well enough to be considered, and most would be hard pressed for an OF position.<br /><br />3B - I didn't even find one at the listed position that deserved the time of day.<br /><br />SS - There are several available that would make great IF/OF utility bench players but none of them will wow anybody at the plate. Since there are so many I am not going to list them and they are all about the same. <br /><br />LF - If your looking for a power hitter, even a stop gap moldy one, forget it. I didn't even find a player I would consider drafting even for 1B.<br /><br />CF - There isn't a player I would even consider a bench player at any position let alone play the position. <br /><br />RF - <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147880" target="_blank">Theo Darwin</a> is the first one that comes up on the list. He is intriguing due to the fact that he could be a walk machine.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1882416" target="_blank">Weldon Reynolds</a> could be an interesting choice with his power.<br /><br />P - <a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147769" target="_blank">Danys Bournigal</a> is probably the only player in Rule 5 that should have been protected. He is ML ready though I would be hard pressed to use him as a closer with his lack of durability. He can give you up to 70 innings a season easy in a setup role but not every day.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147641" target="_blank">Coco Sweeney</a> would make a good long reliever as I don't think he is quite ready as a starter. He could be good in the future on the right team.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147801" target="_blank">Marty Cameron</a> would be an interesting pick but is not ready for the ML at this time.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2098267" target="_blank">Kiki Carrara</a> interests me because he is ready but suffers from the lack of durability.<br /><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1882316" target="_blank">Junior Torres</a> would be a good choice as a long reliever and emergency starter.<br /><br />There are several pitchers that could are good enough to be used as stop gap measures that could surprise everyone but no one I would consider consistent.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-7063590136717292772009-09-04T22:52:00.003-04:002009-09-05T00:58:45.742-04:00The Royal Rumble<div style="background-color: #ECEBD4; border:solid 1px grey; width:413px; height:75px;"><table style="border: none;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td><img src="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/FranchiseLogos/Rectangle/Rochester.jpg" width="148" height="73" alt="Rochester" /></td><td><div style="background-image:url('http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Images/FranchiseProfile/general_box_blog.gif'); height:73px; margin:0; padding:0; width:261px;"><table style="width:261px; color:black; font-family:Tacoma; font-size:12px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; padding:11px 5px 0px 5px;">Rochester Royal Rumble (NL)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center; padding:3px 5px 0px 5px;"><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/UserProfile.aspx?uid=545345" target="_blank">firesign34</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center; padding:3px 5px 0px 5px;"><a style="color:black;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/FranchiseProfile.aspx?fid=4755" target="_blank">View Hardball Dynasty Profile</a></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><br /><br />Originally the franchise was founded in Cincinnati and called the Coneys. Current management purchased the team in season 2 and moved them to New Britain and named them the Naughty Kitties, a common moniker there. In New Britain the team had little success in its first two seasons but took the division crown in season 4 and a wild card berth in season 5 with a matching 90-72 record, the fans were ecstatic. Both times they were ousted in the first round by some very close games. After a dispute with the New Britain Stadium group, management was forced from their comfy confines and found a suitor in Rochester and the newly renovated Frontier Park. The players on the team actually came up with the new nickname of Royal Rumble after the bitter dispute in New Britain.<br /><br />Team song: Royal Rumble...what else. <br />Team Mascot: The Hulkster..who else.<br /><br />Management, of course, expects nothing less than a World Series title in season 6, getting there will be very tough as 162 plus games and at least 19 teams stand in our way. The players are loose and ready to play and want nothing less than that title. The new fans are excited as all home dates have been sold out already. <br /><br />Coaches - All ML coaches were either rehired or were hired from within the organization.<br /><br />The team roster stands as follows before the Rule 5 Draft:<br /><br />C - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780814" target="_blank">Charles Nakano</a> returns for his sixth season as primary backstop. <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2098241" target="_blank">Pedro Valentin</a> was called up mid season last year when things went badly for Furio O'Brien who retired in the off season.<br /><br />1B - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1882223" target="_blank">Ed Wood</a> who was newly acquired a few minutes ago will take over the duties from Vic Seneca.<br /><br />2B - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1795705" target="_blank">Rafael Perez</a> will get the start again after his Gold Glove performance last year. <br /><br />3B - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1776625" target="_blank">Orval Varitek</a> and his gold Glove will assume the duties for another year.<br /><br />SS - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1778220" target="_blank">Esteban Izturis</a> happily returns after last minute FA negotiations that broke down early in the off season.<br /><br />LF - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779407" target="_blank">Aubrey Speaker</a> returns for another season. <br /><br />CF - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2098273" target="_blank">Al Mendoza</a> who was called up mid season last year in an emergency situation wowed teammates and coaches alike. He provides comic relief when the team is in need.<br /><br />RF - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1777006" target="_blank">Vic Seneca</a> was the 1B most for most of last year, but was called upon late in the season to take over the RF duties and performed admirably. With the recent release of Clint Mercedes and the signing of Ed Wood, the move was made permanent for this season.<br /><br />Bench at the moment consists of <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2312285" target="_blank">Alex Flores</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1777298" target="_blank">Trent Flores</a> (no relation as far as we know), <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780656" target="_blank">Junior Alicea</a><br /><br />SP - <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779167" target="_blank">Oscar Chang</a> (season 4 Cy Young winner) an <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147762" target="_blank">Mario Swift</a> will be the number 1 and 2 starters for season 6, however the other three positions will have to be earned this season. <br /><br />Joining the SP fight will be: <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779997" target="_blank">Clarence Branson</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780676" target="_blank">Roger Allen</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1781123" target="_blank">Christopher Krause</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780099" target="_blank">Alton Francis</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2147790" target="_blank">Benji Lopez</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1778732" target="_blank">Stuart Carver</a> and <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1781170" target="_blank">Ira Richard</a>. <br /><br />Long Relief and Setup: <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779141" target="_blank">Darrin Dipoto</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1779161" target="_blank">Karim Parra</a>, <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780045" target="_blank">Carlos Gonzalez</a>, and <a style="color:red;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780718" target="_blank">Julio Torres</a> <br /><br />Departures for last season: RP - <a style="color:yellow;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780974" target="_blank">Andy Walsh</a>, RF - <a style="color:yellow;" href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1780016" target="_blank">Napoleon Bowles</a>, RF - Clem Davis who signed with the Burlington Mean Green, C - Furio O'Brien who retired, Geraldo Moreno who was released, and RF - Clint Mercedes who was recently released as a last minute option.<br /><br />It is doubtful the Royal Rumble will participate in the Rule 5 draft. Drafting 21st and from the looks of things at the moment a possible 17th pick, makes it look bleak. Although we will be checking things out from top to bottom. What we look for in the Rule 5 draft is players that are better than the current roster and that is hard to come by.firesign34http://www.blogger.com/profile/04344589421466911086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-88650664782090755022009-09-03T17:52:00.009-04:002009-09-03T18:15:37.995-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Images/FranchiseLogos/Rectangle/SantaFe.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 73px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Images/FranchiseLogos/Rectangle/SantaFe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Santa Fe Fireworks</span></strong><br /><br /><div align="left">The Santa Fe Fireworks, formerly known as the El Paso Libere El Taco Rosado, have historically been a good franchise that has fallen on hard times only recently. In season one, El Taco Rosado finished with a 106-win mark and advanced to the World Series. Since then, however, the Fireworks have yet to win a second division title; seasons two and three were marked by two wildcard appearances and subsequent early exits from the playoffs, and the Fireworks have not been back in the playoffs since. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Captained by owner fumanchu for the first four seasons, the team was bought by Keosawa in season five and suffered through its worst season to date, a 73-89 mark. Located in WhatifSports field, Santa Fe's stadium boasts limited seating but guaranteed fireworks, hence the moniker. However, a high-octane offense has yet to have a positive effect on the team's win total.<br /><br /></div><div align="left">The Fireworks are led by veteran third baseman Harry Torres, power-hitting second baseman Kyle Briggs, and up-and-coming starter Matty Tracy.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Team Awards</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><p align="justify"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Images/TrophyCase/AL_South.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Images/TrophyCase/Pennant_AL.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Images/TrophyCase/Pennant_AL.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">AL South Champions (season one)</p><p align="justify">ALCS Champions (season one)</p><p align="center"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong>Team Hall of Fame</strong></p><p align="left">Is this something that players are interested in doing?</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-53328354411970119042009-09-02T23:07:00.002-04:002009-09-02T23:21:02.835-04:00Free Agent Flurry: Coomer, Chavez, and Hardy InkedBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />A mad dash for free agent pickups resulted in three of the off-season's biggest names signing long-term contracts today, as the free agency season capped off with a bang.<br /><br />Shawn Coomer was perhaps the biggest winner of the early year, with a 5-year deal worth an estimated $46 million. 4 years and $36 million of said deal is guaranteed for the 30-year-old 3B, who will now look to improve the lineup of the Washington D.C. Generals.<br /><br />Coomer was perhaps the best pure power hitter available this off-season: in five seasons, he has hammered 238 career HRs to go along with 623 lifetime RBIs.<br /><br />The Scottsdale Snipers inked 33-year-old Vladimir Chavez to the surprisingly reasonable tune of 4 years and $35.2 million. Chavez is coming off a lengthy deal that paid him $94 million.<br /><br />Chavez, known as one of the best pure hitters in the game, is a lifetime .340 hitter.<br /><br />Wil Hardy, 30, become the third of a trifecta of big-name hitters to sign today, as he found an interested party in the Detroit Badasses. Hardy was signed to a 5-year deal worth an estimated $35.4 million.<br /><br />Hardy was one of the few legitimate centerfielders on the market this season, and despite recent on-field struggles, has the talent to be a key contributor for the Badasses this season.<br /><br />All three signings seem to suggest that owners in Canseco will take a spendthrifty approach to free agency; all three signings were below predictions made at the Courier.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-41755724573466004322009-08-31T18:51:00.004-04:002009-09-01T16:52:09.737-04:00Hitters Look to Dominate Free Agent SpendingBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />Despite hard fiscal times, there's no money shortage inside Canseco. These players hope to prove that brand of rhetoric correct by "making bank," as they say, this offseason.<br /><br />I've ranked some of the big-name free agents based on how much money I think they might receive. Remember, this isn't about what they <span style="font-style: italic;">deserve</span>, but rather, what they'll get <span style="font-style: italic;">paid</span>. Those two concepts, my friends, are not always exclusive to one another:<br /><br />Hector Balboa, 30, 3B: The stars are all aligned for Balboa to be perhaps the most expensive free agent of season six. He's in his prime (30), a very strong defensive player for his position (3B), the victim of only two DL stints in five seasons, capable of logging over 140 games a season, and an excellent hitter. The three-time All-Star will more than likely force some poor soul to guarantee five years. It's possible he'll earn a max contract, depending on the market, but there's too much good offensive talent elsewhere in free agency for that to be anywhere near a sure-thing.<br /><strong>Prediction: 5 Years, $90 Million</strong><br /><br />Vladimir Chavez, 33, RF: Pontifications about Chavez' value are more than likely all over the place: some might believe the 33-year-old could attain a contract rivaling his massive original deal struck with the Pie Lovers in season one, while others would be hard-pressed into believing Chavez could warrant anything more than two years at the going rate for players of his age. I'd like to believe Chavez will end up somewhere in between, with a three-year contract with a high annual salary. An absurdly talented player, Chavez will command close to a max deal, but likely won't see as long a contract as others.<br /><strong>Prediction: 3 Years, $55 Million</strong><br /><br />Wil Hardy, 30, CF: The 30-year-old Hardy could potentially draw a lot of interest this off-season, given that he's a good player at a premium position with speed. However, he's also struggled his way through two consecutive anemic seasons, and he has never proven to be anything more than a pretty good hitter. Teams looking for a potential leadoff CF might consider breaking the proverbial piggy bank for Hardy's services. Others might be scared away by a batting average from last season that fluttered around .250.<br /><strong>Prediction: 5 Years, $50 Million</strong><br /><br />Shawn Coomer, 30, 3B: Coomer's weaknesses--a mediocre glove and a tendency to strike out--are greatly outweighed by his strengths, which include a strong pedigree at Tampa Bay, in which he hit over 40 HRs and 120 RBIs in each of his first five seasons, as well as power that is almost exceedingly rare at his position. Some teams will scoff at a mega-deal for a player whose durability has started to regress at the age of 30, while others will rejoice in attaining a middle-of-the-lineup corner infielder. Chances are, Coomer will wrangle four years out of some team, and $12 million per season is not out of the question.<br /><strong>Prediction: 4 Years, $48 Million</strong><br /><br />Enrique Batista, 36, RP: Considering Rob Parker's humongous signing last season, this year's premiere closer free agent, Batista, is in a favorable position. Working against him is his age and health concerns, though Batista to this point has aged remarkably gracefully. A three-time Fireman of the Year winner, he won't receive Rob Parker money, but chances are, someone will overpay for his services. A deal in which Batista wrangles 3 years and $48 million out of some poor sap is a very real possibility, which would put Batista just a few million behind Parker in terms of per-year pay rate ($16 million a season).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction: 3 Years, $48 Million</span><br /><strong></strong><br />Justin Campbell, 30, LF: Campbell, a very talented doubles hitter and basestealer with a little pop to his bat to boot, is one of the better contact hitters in Canseco. A two-time All-Star and Gold Glover, Campbell unfortunately doesn't play a sexy position, nor does he have a sexy playing-style, either. There are some minor questions about how his speed and durability hold up as he enters the wrong side of 30. Still, it's likely he'll warrant a four-year deal worth $10 million a season.<br /><strong>Prediction: 4 Years, $40 Million</strong><br /><br />Walter Young, 35, CF: Young's days at CF are likely behind him now, and his decline has been precipitous over the last several seasons. Yet he is still an intriguing player because he is still dangerous at the plate and can possibly make the transition to second base. It's very possible that he'll be waiting on the sidelines for a while, just like fellow 35-year-old Bonk Lemaster. two years will likely be in the cards for Young, but his better defensive play will help him outearn Lemaster.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction: 2 Years, $22 Million</span><br /><br />Bonk Lemaster, 35, LF: Lemaster, in his mid-30s, is now an antique by baseball's standards; with that said, he's still a valuable antique, and the appraisal for him's likely going to be rather high. Odds are, Lemaster will sign for a shorter deal, possibly for two years. Type A compensation concerns might keep him from signing with the right team for a while, though eventually he'll find a home. There will likely not be a great deal of competition for his services, but for a player with a lifetime .318 batting average, $10 million over two seasons is not out of the question.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction: 2 Years, $20 Million<br /></span><br />There are others who could very well make a fair sum this off-season. Lon Barber's value has diminished because there are a number of quality LFs already on the market, though he remains a quality batter nevertheless. Jack Skinner, 24, is the rare free agent with youth and major league potential, which could create a stir; the same goes for Al Martin, 25. And finally, there are a bevy of reliable relievers who could, if the market so demands, be receiving pay raises very soon.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-15128754953570860632009-08-31T18:10:00.004-04:002009-08-31T18:44:27.530-04:00Hey There, Big Spenders: A Who's Who List of Who Has Money to BurnBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />With a drought of free-agent pitching talent, season six's off-season free agency class seems poised to offer quite a bit for those high bidders looking for a little "oomph" in their lineup.<br /><br />A stable arm in their rotation? Not so much.<br /><br />The list of free agents was finalized at midnight last night, and this year's crop includes several big-name sluggers and a handful of reliable bullpen options.<br /><br />As teams jockey for position in the mad dash that is the free agency period, let's look at which teams, at present, have the most payroll space, and which teams have the least.<br /><br />Bear in mind that these figures are being calculated <strong>before</strong> the arbitration period has been finalized, so payroll numbers could--and almost certainly will--increase for certain clubs:<br /><br />Scottsdale Snipers: $52.9 Million<br />Monterrey Sultans: $51.8 Million<br />Augusta Analbum Covers: $47.2 Million<br />Burlington Mean Green: $43.8 Million<br />Pittsburgh Penguins: $39.9 Million<br />Boise Beagles: $38 Million<br />Hartford Scrogg-Kings: $30.5 Million<br />Atlanta Vipers: $29.3 Million<br />Washington D.C. Generals: $28.7 Million<br />Houston Hackers: $27.4 Million<br />Chicago Dark Knights: $26.7 Million<br />Detroit Badasses: $25.6 Million<br />Richmond Spiders: $24.2 Million<br />Philadelphia Athletics: $24 Million<br />Arizona Destroyers: $23.2 Million<br />Mexico City Cuachicqueh: $18.5 Million<br />Cincinnati Reds: $17.8 Million<br />Helena Mustangs: $16.5<br />Jacksonville Canes: $13.6 Million<br />St. Louis st.louis: $13.5 Million<br />Tampa Bay dingo: $12.9 Million<br />Santa Fe Fireworks: $12.1 Million<br />Chicago Fainting Goats: $11.1 Million<br />Rochester Royal Rumble: $9.5 Million<br />Salt Lake City Dead Bunnies: $8.1 Million<br />Louisville Thoroughbreds: $7.2 Million<br />Anaheim Sluggers: $5.8 Million<br />New York Roid Rage: $5.5 Million<br />Dover bushwacking crackercrookers: $5.2 Million<br />Minnesota Bagwell Bashers: $2.9 Million<br />Cleveland Pronksters: $2.1 Million<br />Oakland Stars: $0.6 MillionUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-20936924072377107642009-08-30T22:20:00.002-04:002009-08-30T22:48:13.485-04:00Extension RundownBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />With the first day of Canseco now winding down, teams are committing long-term extensions to some players, and letting others walk. Here is a recap of some of the bigger extensions doled out on day one:<br /><br />16-game winner Rollie Ross has cashed in on a career year with the Philadelphia Athletics: Ross will remain with the A's for 3 years at $15.85 million.<br /><br />Jerry Fiore (15-9, 3.95 ERA), one of Washington's standout starters last season, will re-up with the Generals. He's slated to be paid $5 million this year, $5.5 million the next, and $6 million in a third season, guaranteeing him a total of $16.5 million over three seasons.<br /><br />Joe Carlson (11-9, 3.31 ERA) was one of the off-season's biggest earners, netting a 4-year deal worth a reported $24 million from the Louisville Thoroughbreds. Carlson, 27, has pitched over 190 innings in each of his first Major League seasons, totaling a 47-46 lifetime record.<br /><br />Despite a subpar season, Al Ozuna became one of the highest paid offensive players in this season's offseason re-signing period: Ozuna will make a reported $36.5 million over the next five seasons. The 28-year-old CF was a AAA All-Star but a lifetime .256 hitter in the majors.<br /><br />100-RBI man Valerio Gutierrez will return to St. Louis for three seasons at an estimated price tag of $18.75 million. Gutierrez, 28, has now averaged over 100 runs, 100 RBIs, and 35 home runs in the previous two seasons. Likewise, Bartolo Chavez (28 HR, 90 RBI) will also be back in St. Louis this season.<br /><br />Young closer Humberto Arias will be returning to the Salt Lake City Dead Bunnies with a yearly salary that averages out to just over $7 million a season, making him one of the highest paid young closers in the league.<br /><br />All-Star Phil Ogawa raked in the dough with Cleveland: for 5 years and $29 million, the Pronksters will retain Ogawa's services. Ogawa, 27, is coming off his best season as a professional and his first Major League All-Star birth.<br /><br />Talented young 2B Luis Sanchez will return to the Helena Mustangs for the relatively low price of $22 million over 4 years. Sanchez, 25, broke out last season with a .303 average and 98 runs batted in.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-56041857297379079442009-08-30T22:09:00.002-04:002009-08-30T22:19:21.948-04:00Season Six CommencesBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />The first day of season six has commenced, with GMs forced into tough decisions regarding which free agents and coaches to re-sign, and which ones to let go.<br /><br />From newly annointed World Series Champions the New York Roid Rage on down, the objective is the same: to make the correct off-season decisions.<br /><br />Similarly, the Canseco Courier has also officially opened its doors today, after a trial run in season five that was met with magnanimous (okay, perhaps that's <em>too</em> strong of a word) reception. Here's what's slated for the Courier's off-season program:<br /><br />1. Coverage of the off-season trade talks. This involves not only coverage of the "big" trades, but also occasional "Rumor Mills" which speculate as to which teams might be interested in dealing such-and-such players or acquiring a certain someone.<br /><br />2. Detailed coverage of free agency. More news will be available in a few days on this, once rosters start to shake out.<br /><br />3. Owner interviews with some--or perhaps all--of our new owners.<br /><br />Best of luck to all teams this off-season, and be sure to keep checking the Courier for news and updates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-43770312883775434792009-08-12T10:11:00.003-04:002009-08-13T00:41:11.280-04:00Playoff Roundup: ALCS SetBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />Season five's ALCS matchup became a no-brainer after Philadelphia and New York went a combined 9-1 in previous series.<br /><br />That winning percentage (.900) is now destined to slip, as two strong World Series contenders will meet to decide who represents the American League.<br /><br />The Philly Athletics have gone a perfect 6-0 to sweep their previous two opponents, Seattle and top-seeded Cleveland. 5 of those 6 games were decided by two runs or less.<br /><br />The other? a 6-3 "blowout" over the Starbucks in game one of the Play-In Series.<br /><br />The Roid Rage, meanwhile, took control of their series against Mexico City; in dropping only one game, they outscored the Cuachicquehs 24-12 in four games.<br /><br />Now, how do these two teams match up? We'll examine four key categories: offense, defense, pitching, and head-to-head play:<br /><br /><span>Offense<br /><span><br /></span></span>Offensively, both clubs are virtually deadlocked<span><span>; Philadelphia owns a mere +8 run differential over New York on the season (968 to 960), and their team batting averages--.285--are exactly the same. Philadelphia has perhaps the biggest impact bat of the two in Benji Henderson, who has hit .317 with 52 HR and 140 RBI. However, in the postseason, New York's Julian Jose (.303, 44 HR, 122 RBI) could prove just as valuable. The best overall player in either lineup might belong to Philadelphia as well, in the form of one Hector Balboa.<br /><br />Neither team will scare anyone on the basepaths; Philly's Wil Hardy has played like a sedated version of himself all season, with only 19 stolen bases and less attempts (28) than he had steals last season (37). Hardy has the speed and bat to be a game-changer for the A's, but he's mired in one of his worst seasons to date.<br /><br />As a hitter versus lefties, Philly's Brett Burnett could have a huge impact when called upon. Though if Jamie Grahe (.267, 43 HR, 110 RBI) starts playing up to his potential, New York could, at least offensively, prove to be better.<br /><br />At this point, these two are too close for their to be a decisive winner one way or the other.<br /><br />Advantage: Tie<br /><br />Defense<br /><br />Philadelphia was one of the best fielding teams in the entire ML this season. While the A's have no Gold Glove winners from this season, their defense up the middle, manned by Balboa and Hardy, plays at a very high level. The rest of Philly's infield--including SS Damaso Mendoza, 1B Henderson, and 3B Mercado--have all had exceptional defensive seasons and are among the best in the ML as a unit.<br /><br />Philly's one glaring defensive weakness is its corner outfielders, though most Major League teams sacrifice defense for offensive pop at these positions.<br /><br />New York, meanwhile, has a third-baseman convert playing shortstop in Brian Yosida (37 errors), and another third-baseman convert playing center field in Andrew Biggio. While both are good defensive players, they've also struggled throughout the season due to these difficult assignments.<br /><br />Besides Juan Machado, who stands as one of the top defensive 1Bs in the game, Philadelphia has New York outmanned in the field.<br /><br />Advantage: Philadelphia<br /><br />Pitching<br /><br />Entering the ALCS, Philly boasts 16-game winner Rollie Ross (16-10, 4.50 ERA) and 36-year-old Wes McGowan (13-7, 4.97 ERA) as its front-end starters. Young Ariel Mesa, who was a stellar 10-0 this season as a reliever, is a stud closer in the making, and late-season pickup Courtney Neugebauer (5-3, 3.36 ERA) has been stellar, but the Roid Rage have a clear advantage in this category.<br /><br />All-world starter Brian Mahoney (21-6, 2.42 ERA) will likely add a third consecutive Cy Young Award to his vast list of accomplishments in what has been his most exceptional season to date. Behind him, three-time All-Star Benny Montana (17-10, 3.98 ERA) and former All-Star B.J. Kotsay (15-5, 3.24 ERA) await.<br /><br />At the end of games, the A's will get to know rubber-armed Gus Jorgensen, who has averaged a shade under 70 appearances per season over the course of his career. Since arriving in New York, he's become one of baseball's premiere closers.<br /><br />Advantage: New York<br /><br />Head-to-Head<br /><br />New York, last season's AL rep, owns a 7-3 season-long record against the A's. In the last two series between the two, the A's have struggled immensely to score runs against the Roid Rage.<br /><br />If Philadelphia can't put runs on the board, expect for New York to win a series that doesn't go seven games.<br /><br />Advantage: New York<br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-40413943242030881322009-08-06T16:25:00.002-04:002009-08-06T16:47:59.313-04:00High A Augusta Rules as League's Top TeamBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />Improbable as it might sound, the Augusta Analbum Covers are no longer the best baseball team in Maine. For a $27-thousand-a-year paycheck, a team of Augustan youngsters might <em>already </em>be better than their pro-level bretheren.<br /><br />It is clear now that Augusta's High A club is a special collection of talent; so good are they that a large section of the Analbum Covers' fanbase think they'd topple the 62-99 team should the two meet.<br /><br />While that speculation won't ever materialize into anything more than an Augustan fanboy's dream, it is clear that the High A team--a staggering 116-28 on the season--are the best and brightest part of an organization-wide youth movement.<br /><br />They've been so good, in fact, that they're on the short list for greatest-ever minor league club in Canseco. And their winning percentage, which is now over .800%, is the best of any team in baseball.<br /><br />Soon, questions of whether Augusta's High A team could defeat their ML club will be moot, since this High A team will <em>become</em> the ML squad in a few seasons.<br /><br />Until then, a mishmash of blue chippers and stars in the making continue to smash records and bludgeon mismatched opponents in the depths of the lower minor leagues.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, the High A Analbum Covers rule the roost in nearly every statistical category. Offensively, they're far and away the best team per league in Canseco. With 1295 team runs in a mere 144 games on the season, they lead in run total. As a team, they're hitting a staggering .334 on the season.<br /><br />Led by can't-miss whiz kid Jose Alvarez, who, in his first season, has hit .385 with 160 RBIs and 46 SBs, the Analbum Covers have indeed pounded opposing starters all season long. Yet it's been young 1B Nerio Springer who has turned heads; his RBI total on the season stands at 177. In total, the lineup has 7 hitters with 100+ RBIs, and most players are hitting well north of .300.<br /><br />Even so, in a feat that's unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon, Augusta also leads High A in runs allowed. Their team ERA (3.30) is the lowest in the league.<br /><br />Staff ace Timothy Reed (20-4, 2.84 ERA) is a 23-year-old righty that most scouts have projected as a future Major League ace. He has the ability, some observers believe, to pitch in the Majors tomorrow if the organization so chooses.<br /><br />Behind him? There's fellow Cy Young candidate Charlie Chase (18-3, 2.64 ERA), along with one of the minors' most talented pens.<br /><br />If the spectacular High A team keeps this up, Augusta really will have something to play for come the end of September.<br /><br />Their jobs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-10445757517860280522009-08-05T16:44:00.002-04:002009-08-05T17:03:54.794-04:00LA's Tossing TrichotomyBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />An up-and-comer on a powerhouse ballclub, Kip Simpson has had a season most pitchers can only dream of. He's on anyone's most improved player short list; this season, he's added an astonishing 10 wins to his season four win total, and now stands as one of only four pitchers in baseball with 20 victories.<br /><br />Yet even with a 20-7 record, Simpson isn't even the best pitcher on <span style="font-style: italic;">his own team</span>. Not only that, but when juggernaut Anaheim steamrolls into the postseason, he's not even a safe bet to pitch twice in a seven-game series.<br /><br />When's the last time a 20-game winner has been relegated to middle-of-the-rotation status?<br /><br />Such is the dilemma in Anaheim (though it admittedly is a very happy problem to have): the Sluggers' tossing trichotomy of Simpson, Scott White and Ivan Griffin are the most formidable rotation in baseball for a reason.<br /><br />Simpson (20-7, 3.66) will likely be standing on the sidelines when the NL Cy Young award is given out. However, most GMs concede that this three-horse race could easily be staged within the confines of the Sluggers' locker room, which houses the top three wins leaders in the National League.<br /><br />Simpson joins veteran Ivan Griffin (19-3, 3.07 ERA) and Cy Young favorite Scott White (20-4, 2.49 ERA) as one-third of baseball's 59-win trio. If Griffin can notch just one more victory, that'll give the 114-44 Sluggers three 20-game winners, all in a single season.<br /><br />The thought of facing the Sluggers isn't appealing for NL foes, especially considering that besides facing a 20-game winner in virtually every game of a long series, they'll be met with all-world closer Rob Parker, who's 50-for-50 and counting in save opportunities this season. If any RP could garner enough votes for a potential Cy Young theft, it's Parker and his perfect season.<br /><br />In his second season, owner davidbutler9 has taken a perennial loser, forced it onto the postseason's doorstep in season four, and now has molded it into the proverbial elephant in the room; the Sluggers have become the team no one is eager to face.<br /><br />Despite this being their first postseason birth, the Sluggers are poised as the odds-on World Series favorites.<br /><br />And with their 59-win pitching trio, a mere 12 wins is all that separates them from a World Series title.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-9007026173917552682009-08-05T13:06:00.003-04:002009-08-05T13:24:56.689-04:00Garrido Nears Third MVP Award, Triple CrownBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />Amidst a staggeringly distinguished and successful career, one of Canseco's most feared hitters is enjoying his most potent season to date.<br /><br />Needless to say, that empty space next to Al Garrido's two Most Valuable Player trophies on his mantle might soon be occupied.<br /><br />The 29-year-old catcher for the Cleveland Pronksters has benefited from fast-rising Teddy Spehr's breakout campaign to post career-bests in multiple categories. To date, Garrido has already blasted 69 homers, which stands as a Cleveland record and would rank second all-time, behind only Odalis Rosado's 76 home runs for Scottsdale last season.<br /><br />He's also notched career bests in runs (134), hits (209), RBIs (169), walks (83), and average (.363). In doing so, Garrido has all but cemented himself as an AL Triple Crown winner.<br /><br />Garrido's numbers dwarf all competitors, as he leads comfortably in all three categories. The distinction as Triple Crown winner, albeit impressive, would leave only a World Series championship on the Wisconsin native's to-do list.<br /><br />At 102-56, the Pronksters have a legitimate chance to represent the American League in the World Series. To get there, they'll have to best a bevy of talented AL East squads, among them incumbant AL champ New York. And the feared Anaheim Sluggers, with perhaps baseball's best rotation all season, remain the concensus favorites.<br /><br />Still, with the now-mythical bat of Garrido in tow, the Pronksters might very well slug their way to the franchise's first World Series title. For a city that has suffered through innumerable postseason disasters, their best chance lies in their MVP superstar bringing his power-hitting theatrics to October.<br /><br />If things go as planned for the Pronksters, Garrido might very well need a bigger mantle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901754956475943479.post-81030678107441006862009-08-05T00:02:00.001-04:002009-08-05T11:20:55.863-04:00Welcome to the Canseco CourierBy KYLE KEOUGH<br />CANSECO COURIER<br /><br />Hello to all, and welcome to the Canseco Courier. Commissioner Coonja asked if I might be interested in setting up a blog for our league, and I'm more than happy to do so.<br /><br />I started a blog for another league and helped run it for a few seasons, so this isn't my first rodeo. My hope is that the Canseco Courier will offer you routine updates and articles, polls and rumors, and a chat room with which players can freely converse about all things Canseco.<br /><br />Anyone is more than welcome to help contribute. I also welcome anyone who wants to, to become a blogspot.com member. That way, you can become a follower.<br /><br />Thanks again to our commissioner for making this possible, and be sure to check back in for more updates.<br /><br />Kyle Keough, aka "Keosawa"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0