Last Chance for the Aging Patriots?

Trenton- Manager Darren Lloyd took a long drag before flicking his cigarette across the room..."I don't know how much we have left in the tank-We've won 93 games each of the past two seasons but can't seem to play well come the play-offs." Clubhouse comedian Terry Barkett interrupted Lloyd's interview with his own conjecture. " What we's be needin' is some balls", alluding to the manner in which the Patriots folded once the national spotlight shown on the Trenton ballclub.The Patriots have averaged 95 wins per season since their inception- but have come up small during the post-season.

Louie Hiro , the club's senior spokesman, added his own opinion, " We not getting younger, we getting older"..."We tired of roosing and now we need some better ruck"
They may need more than better luck. Their minor leagues being barren, the cash-strapped franchise will find a difficult time improving upon what they already have. Their rotation is solid, and is led by Robb Yarnall who may be the best pitcher in the entire Jersey League- if he can go deeper into ball games.

Robb Yarnall has the arm of a young Roger Clemens, but unfortunately its attached to the body of an old Jamie Moyer- he can go about 5 innings before fatigue sets in. This puts pressure on the Patriot bullpen- and those are not players that can deal with pressure. Banana Munoz enters his third season with Trenton. "At first I loved this place- and I could pitch forever. But now after two years of eating nothing but pizza and whatever other fattening Italian food they got down there in Chambersberg, I can go about one inning per game"

So there you have it- The Trenton Patriots are a diverse bunch- but a diverse bunch with similar traits- they smoke, eat poorly and are generally in no shape to play a full nine innings of competitive ball. With no help on the horizon it will be up to the 25 man roster to stay healthy and push each other- or they will all soon be looking for a job in another town.
Posted by Feamster at 8:49 PM 0 comments

AL East Scouting Report, Part 2

Pittsburgh sluggers
GM/Owner -- larr100 (4th Season, 240-246 Record, 1 AL East Crown)

Season 10 Recap
Record: 71-91 (3rd Place, 10 GB)
BA/OBP/SLG: .256/.323/.426
R/HR/RBI/SB: 775/231/747/53
ERA/WHIP/SO: 5.04/1.54/1,012
Sv/SvO: 39/58

Key Additions
Jacque Chiasson (P)
Milt Purcell (CF)
Brendan Harris (C)
Keith McDonald (P)
Tony Santos (P)
Phil Boggs (P)

Key Losses
Bobby Ray Hamilton (SS, FA)
Miguel Matos (P, Released)
Damon Prince (P, Released)
Jimmie Ortega (P, Released)
Antonio Woo (P, Released)

Projected Starters

C Brendan Harris / Bill Dougherty
1B Jeff Richard / Danny Walsh
2B Bartolo Lee
3B Rodney Mulder
SS Red DiSarcina
LF Steve Clayton
CF Milt Purcell
RF Esteban Johnson
DH Bill Dougherty


SP Pedro Tavarez
SP A.J. Cannon
SP Max Winchester
SP Dave Fox
SP Jacque Chiasson / Miguel Morales
CL Phil Boggs

Pittsburgh was last in the division in BA, OBP, SLG, Runs, RBI, SB (luckily, they were 2nd in HR -- go figure). Although there pitching was more respectable than their Pennsylvania counterpart, it still was well below what can be expected to win a division, especially with porous offensive showing that Sluggers showed. The signing of Milt Purcell gives this team a much needed offensive spark for this season, but will be yet to be seen if this alone will be enough to push the team over the top. The top of the rotation is still young and developing in Tavares and Cannon, so the future definitely looks to be improving for Pittsburgh for seasons to come. New closer (for now) Phil Boggs is actually a Rule V pickup that Philadelphia let go -- should be interesting to see how he handles the Closer Role in his 1st season in the Majors.

AL East Scouting Report, Part 1

This is the first of a 5 part series where I will be analyzing the AL East. As a member approaching my 4th season, I hope this provides a good read and provide present and future readers of this blog a good idea of the quality of ownership we have. I will be posting each of the teams separately in order of reverse finish in standings last season (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Norfolk), followed by a final projection of all the divisions and perpetual World Series winner.

Philadelphia Phillies
GM/Owner -- bball10 (2nd Season, 58-104 Record)

Season 10 Recap
Record: 58-104 (4th Place, 23 GB)
BA/OBP/SLG: .278/.344/.430
R/HR/RBI/SB: 809/201/789/133
ERA/WHIP/SO: 6.26/1.63/1,038
Sv/SvO: 26/40

Key Additions
Vladimir Hernandez (2B)
Luis Estrada (C)
Norm Mantei (P)
Donatello Barker (LF)
Junior Lee (P)
Christopher Lockhart (1B)
John Wang (P)
Nash Ponson (P)
James Robbins (P)

Key Losses
Orlando Guerrero (P, Released)
Eddie Brinkley (P, Released)
Gus Burkett (P, FA)
Don Jensen (P, FA)
Ken Spencer (LF, Released)
Bobby Sherman (2B, FA)
Travis Sandberg (3B, FA)
Miguel James (1B, FA)
Ron Niekro (P, Claimed off Waivers)

Projected Starters

C Henry Foster / Luis Estrada
1B Christopher Lockhart
2B Eduardo Miranda
3B Walt King
SS Al Clifton
LF Achilles Ramirez
CF Vladimir Hernandez
RF R.J. Benitez
DH Donatello Barker


SP William Woods
SP John Manning
SP Junior Lee
SP Russ Schneider
SP ????
CL John Wang

Taking a look back to Season 10, there wasn't much doubt as to why this team finished 4th in the division. The Phillies tried 10 different pitchers in the starting rotation, with little success to find a consistent rotation throughout the season. There best pitcher last season (Ron Niekro) was claimed off waivers by division rival Norfolk. GM bball10 didn't keep it a secret that the Phillies would be big players in the FA market, and they did NOT disappoint. Going into Spring Training, they have signed 9 new players that were not on the club last year, putting a big focus on Relief Pitching (4 out of 9 signings).

Vancouver: Win Now, GM says.

Vacncouver GM brooklynpunx made a few splashes in this off season's FA market. New DH Chip Huson is reunited with former teammate Bernie Goongora. In the past they have combined for more than a few 100+ HR seasons. Also added, Max Bennett, who brings a power bat to this already potent offense. Lastly, Willis Munoz will round out the rotation as the No. 5 starter. Munoz was the winner of 16 games last year and an all-star.


GM, Brooklynpunx has a message for the AL: West this season, "get out of our way, Vancouver will plow down its opposition."

Vancouver fans have to be excited for the added HR power.

Jersey League All-time Leaders: Hitting

After ten seasons, its time to take a look at some of the Jersey League's all time record holders. First, offense.

Home Runs:

#1 Bernie Gongora 621 HRs, age 30. Could he hit 1,000 before its all over? He's got a shot, with good makeup, good health. Scouts say his power has declined a bit over the last few years, but still among the best in the league. Plays in an average hitters park now after time in Houston padded his totals a bit. Betting is that Gongora holds the Jersey League mark for many, many years.

Hardball Dynasty's

Bernie Gongora

#2 Erick Webster, 529 HRs, age 32. His power hasn not dropped off one bit at age 32, but two years older than Gongora so likely won't catch him.

Hardball Dynasty's

Erick Webster

#3, Julius Costello, 482 HRs, age 38. Not much gas left in the tank here for this two-time AL MVP. Can he get to 500 before the wheels fall off? Or have they already fallen off?

Hardball Dynasty's

Julius Costello

RBI:

#1 Bernie Gongora 1,469 RBI, age 30. Yup, him again.

Hardball Dynasty's

Bernie Gongora

#2 Erick Webster, 1,361 RBI, Age 32. Probably won't catch Gongora here either.

Hardball Dynasty's

Erick Webster

#3 Louie Hiro, 1,303 RBI, age 31. Two-time MVP, check out those early years he had with Colorado back in the glory days of deandg.

Hardball Dynasty's

Louie Hiro

OBP (min. 2510 plate appearances)

#1 Dave Gardner, .440, age 36. Interesting player, amazing OBP, but never heard of him. Mediocre defensive catcher, slow, and not much power. But man, can he hit! .351 lifetime BA and plenty of walks. Free agent this year, will anyone sign him?

Hardball Dynasty's

Dave Gardner

#2 Jeremy Richard, .435, age 35. Another catcher, similar to Gardner.

Hardball Dynasty's

Jeremy Richard

#3 Richard Whithem, .427, age 31. The big 1B! Two-time MVP. He gets on base but also has plenty of power, should get to 500 HRs.

Hardball Dynasty's

Richard Withem

Stolen Bases

#1 Braden Bynum, 665, age 31. Those big SB years in Memphis (season 5-6) really goosed his totals. He's still got plenty of speed, should get to 850 SBs, maybe even 1,000 if his other attributes hold up well enough to justify the playing time for a 1B/LF/DH type. In any event, I don't think Bynum holds this record 10 seasons from now.

Hardball Dynasty's

Braden Bynum

#2 Felipe Barcelo, 444, age 32. How did this guy not get at least signed to be a pinch runner for a contender last year? Maybe he was asking for too much money. Still a free agent, but if he didn't get signed in season 10, doesn't look good in 11.

Hardball Dynasty's

Felipe Barcelo

#3 Laurel Feliz, 421, age 32. Hooray, here is an ex-Dealer! This guy has 4 CF gold gloves and was a superb bargain signing for Colorado Springs two years ago. Never a great hitter, or he'd have more bags.

Hardball Dynasty's

Lariel Feliz

Vancouver Asteroids: Things will change

Following a four came sweep in the LCS, Vancouver GM Brooklynpunx promises sweeping change. "We need to get younger, most of our rotation is over 35, our starters weren't getting out of the fifth."

A source close to the team mentions a possible move to the bullpen for Perry Ruth or William Takahashi.

Any move would be made to clear room for incoming free agents. The team has no farm system to speak of.

AL MVP winner, Bernie Gongora has confidence in GM Brooklynpunx. "He knows he has to open the team wallet, he got me didn't he?"

The New Champs: Helena Vigilantes

Hardball Dynasty's

Fernando Fernandez

The Helena Vigilantes won the Jersey League Season 10 title by defeating two-time defending champion Las Vegas Dealers in 6 games. With that, the Jersey League's most successful regular season team for the last four years finally won a championship. As it became clear that the Vigilantes long history of playoff futility had ended, the streets of downtown Helena became packed with drunken revelers, a scene that grew progressively wilder until the Montana National Guard restored order at about 5 AM. Early reports out of Helena include several overturned police cars, dozens of fist fights resulting in hospital visits, reports of celebratory shots fired into the air, damage at numerous downtown taverns, and a death caused by an ill-advised moose-tipping attempt.

Helena clearly put the best team on the field this year, winning 108 games, then cruising through the playoffs, first with a sweep of perennial power Houston We Have a Problem in the first round and then a 4-1 victory over the mighty Tucson Hohokams in the NLCS. The World Series was a rematch of the classic 7 game World Series in Season 8 vs. Las Vegas. Vegas also cruised through the playoffs, with a 3-1 victory over the Iowa City Independence and a 4 game sweep of the Vancouver Asteroids.

Helena struck first in the series, winning game 1 by a 6-4 score behind two HRs from Felix Jones. Game 2 also went to Helena, by a score of 7-2, as Pablo Campos pitched 8 innings to pick up the win. The series looked nearly over as Helena won again in game 3, by a 12-7 score, as Fernando Fernandez hit two bombs.

In game 4, some of Helena's old demons returned, as the bullpen couldn't hold a lead, and the Dealers errupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 8-5. Frank Woo had the big hit, a 3-run home run that put the Dealers in the lead and delayed the party in Helena. Game 5 also went to the Dealers, 7-3, behind a strong pitching performance by Lance Ward, and many in Helena began to worry of a collapse as the Vigilantes couldn't put the Dealers away. They finally did it in game 6 however, winning a tight 7-6 game. Helena took a big lead in the clincher with a Moises Colome grand slam. The Dealers then fought back with 4 runs in the 8th, but Gerald Mantei restored order to collect the save and end the series.

Fernando Fernandez was named the World Series MVP after going 9 for 22 with 5 HRs and 10 RBIs, along with flawless defensive play in centerfield.

Congrats joemac on a big win!