Normally I would wait till there was 20 games to go to make an update to the playoff picture, but that would put things in the middle of quite a few on-going series. For starters the Monterrey Sultans have wrapped their 2nd AL South Title..CONGRATS Acer!. The #1 seed is still in question with Milwaukee Manic Maulers still in the hunt for that coveted spot. Though I am not sure whether being the #1 or #2 seed really makes that much of a difference. The Louisville Legends have a comfortable lead also for the #3 seed, but after that things have gone haywire for several teams.
With the Cornjerkers visting the desert playground, they should have been playing ball instead of jerking slot machines, as the Gamblers took 4 games and put their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.
The Anaheim Chiles have been floundering, playing playoff teams and hopefuls on the road. Winning only 5 of their last 16 games, and it doesn't get any better as they travel to Monterrey and then home for Louisville before things get easier for awhile.
All roads lead through Las Vegas for the playoff hopefuls one way or the other and the recipient of this will be the Toledo Mud Hens. The Gamblers first visit Nashville for 3 important games then to Monterrey. Then comes a steady stream to Vegas, the Fighting Moose stop in, followed by the Skidmarks then those pesky noisy Sounds again followed by the Chiles.
The Gamblers have in fact reached 1 game below .500 again, normally they go on a four or five game skid every time they have got close to that mile stone. But if they can sweep Nashville and win at least 1 from Monterrey, they think their chances of making the playoffs are pretty good before the home party. However the Gamblers have been abysmal at home.
There are a lot of ifs for the last three spots in the AL all of a sudden that wasn't there 10 games ago. Huntington Beachcombers and the New York new york also have an outside shot at making a run, but difficult with the same division and the schedule they have left.
The Toledo Mud Hens has the easiest schedule, facing only Nashville and teams in their division which will either put them in a serious hole or propel them to the #5 seed.
The Nashville Sounds have the Gamblers twice and their division for the most part.
The Cleveland Skidmarks have the Gamblers and Chiles and their division foes.
It is not easy for any of the hopefuls! How will it turn out? Guess we will have to wait and see.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
New York new york $Buck$ trend with William Satou
New York - New York made huge shook the baseball world today by signing IFA William Satou. Satou, a prize defensive and base knocking SS, signed for the minuscule sum of 4.9M and 327K for 5 years. The market has taken a beating this year as other teams have run out of money due to the low attendance record suffered by most teams. Satou was immediately assigned to the High A team to begin his long career to stardom.
30 Games to GO....
Lets see how things are shaping up for the playoff run.
AL North: It appears that the Milwaukee Manic Maulers has things well in control for the time being as the Toledo Mud Hens find them 14 games back.
AL East: The Louisville Legends has the division well under control with a 14 game lead over the Huntington Beachcombers.
AL South: The Monterrey Sultans only need 6 games to mathematically clinch the division already as the Nashville Sounds are their biggest concern at 24 games back.
AL West: The Anaheim Chiles have a somewhat comfortable 9 game lead over the Las Vegas Gamblers. This is the closest race in the AL for a division title, the Gamblers will need to start having consistency if they are going to have a chance.
AL Wild Card: The Toledo Mud Hens and Cleveland Skidmarks are currently holding down the final two spots at this time. The Nashville Sounds are 6 to 8 games back in this race but can't seem to gain any ground.
AL Current Seeding:
1. Monterrey Sultans
2. Milwaukee Manic Maulers - Only 2 games back of the #1 seed
3. Louisville Legends
4. Anaheim Chiles
5. Toledo Mud Hens
6. Cleveland Skidmarks - Only 2 games behind the #5 seed
NL North: The Fargo Dirtbags hold a comfortable lead in the division by 11 games over the Chicago Cubs. 11 games are tough to make up but not impossible.
NL East: The Trenton Traffic currently hold an 8 game lead over the Atlanta Bandits and the Norfolk Destroyers. Atlanta was the only team to gain ground this week and only over the Destroyers.
NL South: The Houston Riverdogs are out in front by 9 games over the Memphis Short Grass and the San Juan Dead Bunnies, both of which lost ground to the Riverdogs.
NL West: The Salem Sacrifices hold the top spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks striking at their heels at 4 games back. This is the tightest race in the world for a division title and could come down to the last game of the season.
NL Wild Card: The Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks currently hold the positions but things could change abruptly. The D'Backs could take the West dropping Salem here or with serious contention from the Toronto Toros.
NL Current Seeding:
1. Fargo Dirtbags
2. Salem Sacrifices - 8 games behind the #1 seed
3. Houston Riverdogs - 4 games behind the #2 seed
4. Trenton Traffic - 1 game behind the #3 seed
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Arizona Diamondbacks - 1 game behind the #5 seed, 4 games behind the #2 seed
7. Toronto Toros - 5 games in back of the #6 seed
AL North: It appears that the Milwaukee Manic Maulers has things well in control for the time being as the Toledo Mud Hens find them 14 games back.
AL East: The Louisville Legends has the division well under control with a 14 game lead over the Huntington Beachcombers.
AL South: The Monterrey Sultans only need 6 games to mathematically clinch the division already as the Nashville Sounds are their biggest concern at 24 games back.
AL West: The Anaheim Chiles have a somewhat comfortable 9 game lead over the Las Vegas Gamblers. This is the closest race in the AL for a division title, the Gamblers will need to start having consistency if they are going to have a chance.
AL Wild Card: The Toledo Mud Hens and Cleveland Skidmarks are currently holding down the final two spots at this time. The Nashville Sounds are 6 to 8 games back in this race but can't seem to gain any ground.
AL Current Seeding:
1. Monterrey Sultans
2. Milwaukee Manic Maulers - Only 2 games back of the #1 seed
3. Louisville Legends
4. Anaheim Chiles
5. Toledo Mud Hens
6. Cleveland Skidmarks - Only 2 games behind the #5 seed
NL North: The Fargo Dirtbags hold a comfortable lead in the division by 11 games over the Chicago Cubs. 11 games are tough to make up but not impossible.
NL East: The Trenton Traffic currently hold an 8 game lead over the Atlanta Bandits and the Norfolk Destroyers. Atlanta was the only team to gain ground this week and only over the Destroyers.
NL South: The Houston Riverdogs are out in front by 9 games over the Memphis Short Grass and the San Juan Dead Bunnies, both of which lost ground to the Riverdogs.
NL West: The Salem Sacrifices hold the top spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks striking at their heels at 4 games back. This is the tightest race in the world for a division title and could come down to the last game of the season.
NL Wild Card: The Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks currently hold the positions but things could change abruptly. The D'Backs could take the West dropping Salem here or with serious contention from the Toronto Toros.
NL Current Seeding:
1. Fargo Dirtbags
2. Salem Sacrifices - 8 games behind the #1 seed
3. Houston Riverdogs - 4 games behind the #2 seed
4. Trenton Traffic - 1 game behind the #3 seed
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Arizona Diamondbacks - 1 game behind the #5 seed, 4 games behind the #2 seed
7. Toronto Toros - 5 games in back of the #6 seed
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Deadline Dealing
Three major trades occurred right before the Season 2 trade deadline.
Trenton Traffic and Cincinnati Dragons
Trenton gets: SP Manny Christians, SP Tito Mercedes (AAA), RF Jimmie Tabaka (AAA)
Cincinnati gets: 3B Paxton Coleridge, SP Cal Paul (AAA), SP Johnny Strong (AAA)
Analysis: Trenton really felt like they needed to get a starting pitcher, so they got Christians. It's a bit of a gamble, as his stamina isn't great, but he can be spectacular. The wisdom of trading the team's RBI leader is questionable, but Christians has a huge contract and the two teams had to make the money work. Mercedes and Tabaka are decent prospects. For Cincinnati, Coleridge is a true all-or-nothing hitter, but when he does connect usually good things happen. He's a proven HR and RBI hitter at the ML level. Cincinnati can either use him or spin him off into something else if they are truly in rebuilding mode. It remains to be seen what Paul and Strong will become.
Las Vegas Gamblers and Chicago Cubs
Las Vegas gets: RP Dave Stewart, RF Aurielo Prieto (AA), SS Kevin Kim (AA)
Chicago gets: OF Denny Moss
Analysis: Wow. Where to start on this one? This deal was highly controversial (read below in the blog and/or our chat board), but eventually went through. Stewart is one of the best closers in the game and Prieto and Kim should eventually be contributors on the ML level (Kim should be a solid starter), but was it worth it for Moss? Again, a lot has been said on this question so I'll leave it be. Moss could have some health issues but when healthy is a 5-tool player and puts up huge numbers. He is a bonafide superstar.
Salem Sacrifices and Colorado Springs Chickens
Salem gets: RP Tony Matos
Colorado Springs gets: IF Jason Carpenter (High A), RP Philip Crane (High A)
Analysis: The rich get richer. Already arguably the best team in the NL, Salem gains another quality arm out of the bullpen. Matos is a proven closer, which will help their good starting staff get wins. For Colorado Springs, Carpenter and Crane are both marginal prospects. They could each make the ML, but I don't see either having a big-time impact.
Trenton Traffic and Cincinnati Dragons
Trenton gets: SP Manny Christians, SP Tito Mercedes (AAA), RF Jimmie Tabaka (AAA)
Cincinnati gets: 3B Paxton Coleridge, SP Cal Paul (AAA), SP Johnny Strong (AAA)
Analysis: Trenton really felt like they needed to get a starting pitcher, so they got Christians. It's a bit of a gamble, as his stamina isn't great, but he can be spectacular. The wisdom of trading the team's RBI leader is questionable, but Christians has a huge contract and the two teams had to make the money work. Mercedes and Tabaka are decent prospects. For Cincinnati, Coleridge is a true all-or-nothing hitter, but when he does connect usually good things happen. He's a proven HR and RBI hitter at the ML level. Cincinnati can either use him or spin him off into something else if they are truly in rebuilding mode. It remains to be seen what Paul and Strong will become.
Las Vegas Gamblers and Chicago Cubs
Las Vegas gets: RP Dave Stewart, RF Aurielo Prieto (AA), SS Kevin Kim (AA)
Chicago gets: OF Denny Moss
Analysis: Wow. Where to start on this one? This deal was highly controversial (read below in the blog and/or our chat board), but eventually went through. Stewart is one of the best closers in the game and Prieto and Kim should eventually be contributors on the ML level (Kim should be a solid starter), but was it worth it for Moss? Again, a lot has been said on this question so I'll leave it be. Moss could have some health issues but when healthy is a 5-tool player and puts up huge numbers. He is a bonafide superstar.
Salem Sacrifices and Colorado Springs Chickens
Salem gets: RP Tony Matos
Colorado Springs gets: IF Jason Carpenter (High A), RP Philip Crane (High A)
Analysis: The rich get richer. Already arguably the best team in the NL, Salem gains another quality arm out of the bullpen. Matos is a proven closer, which will help their good starting staff get wins. For Colorado Springs, Carpenter and Crane are both marginal prospects. They could each make the ML, but I don't see either having a big-time impact.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Trade that got vetoed and my take on it...
Okay, maybe I am a nice guy most of the time, even when trading players. I will use Denny Moss as an example. Last year he had a great season, this season has been so-so and been on the DL. I have 18M at advanced scouting and his projected health is a 62, for those with 20 in advanced scouting it could be a plus or minus 2 points. So he is a projected 90 rated player and a plate monster. His field play is real good, just don't put him in at SS..he sucks there actually. To top it off, he is a base stealing threat. Sounds like a player everyone wants.... except me. Why?
I value players differently, to me Moss should be rated no higher than 80 projected and I top him off at 75 max because of that health rating and I rate pitchers higher depending on their stats. To me I was getting Stewart for Moss, that was an even deal. The other 2 players were icing on the cake to me, although on the surface you think they were career minor leaguers. They would have been in my ML bullpen or starters depending sooner or later. And someone said I should get at least 3 good players for him.
Now let me describe what happens on the health issue. The first season I ever played, I had a catcher with Moss's numbers, well, his catching wasn't that great but passable. His health rating was actually a little higher, a point or two and makeup was 12 points less. He did great in spring training. Right before the first pitch, I swear he tripped over the dugout steps, he was out for the season with a bulging disk. His numbers declined 30% across the board and never recovered and get worse every year and no one wanted him either, luckily it is the last year of his contract now, a 4.7M, 3 year waste, although AAA coaches like him. And before you ask, he was 26 years old. After that little experience, I don't draft players with health ratings projected below 70, they are the first ones to go to the bottom of the list, I don't even look at the rest of their stats even. I don't take players in a trade below 65 unless there is another player I want involved, so don't even attempt it. I don't even bother looking at IFA's either unless I need them to fill a hole somewhere as a cheap emergency. Call me cautious or what ever, if you can't depend on the player being in the lineup, then there is no use having him. Hmmm, Moss kind of reminds me of Ken Griffey Jr.
For me, the original deal was perfect, we both got something we needed, mfoster wanted a CF and I got my pitcher and 2 not so great but very usable pitchers. And yes, I warned him about the health condition, just like I did Tucker. Since you vetoed what I thought was a fair deal, now I get 3 players that will turn out to be good ML players and it wasn't my doing. Maybe after reading this, you will change your mind and think I am getting too much, which in my mind is exactly right, but that is what ya wanted, so mfoster made it happen...not me.
I value players differently, to me Moss should be rated no higher than 80 projected and I top him off at 75 max because of that health rating and I rate pitchers higher depending on their stats. To me I was getting Stewart for Moss, that was an even deal. The other 2 players were icing on the cake to me, although on the surface you think they were career minor leaguers. They would have been in my ML bullpen or starters depending sooner or later. And someone said I should get at least 3 good players for him.
Now let me describe what happens on the health issue. The first season I ever played, I had a catcher with Moss's numbers, well, his catching wasn't that great but passable. His health rating was actually a little higher, a point or two and makeup was 12 points less. He did great in spring training. Right before the first pitch, I swear he tripped over the dugout steps, he was out for the season with a bulging disk. His numbers declined 30% across the board and never recovered and get worse every year and no one wanted him either, luckily it is the last year of his contract now, a 4.7M, 3 year waste, although AAA coaches like him. And before you ask, he was 26 years old. After that little experience, I don't draft players with health ratings projected below 70, they are the first ones to go to the bottom of the list, I don't even look at the rest of their stats even. I don't take players in a trade below 65 unless there is another player I want involved, so don't even attempt it. I don't even bother looking at IFA's either unless I need them to fill a hole somewhere as a cheap emergency. Call me cautious or what ever, if you can't depend on the player being in the lineup, then there is no use having him. Hmmm, Moss kind of reminds me of Ken Griffey Jr.
For me, the original deal was perfect, we both got something we needed, mfoster wanted a CF and I got my pitcher and 2 not so great but very usable pitchers. And yes, I warned him about the health condition, just like I did Tucker. Since you vetoed what I thought was a fair deal, now I get 3 players that will turn out to be good ML players and it wasn't my doing. Maybe after reading this, you will change your mind and think I am getting too much, which in my mind is exactly right, but that is what ya wanted, so mfoster made it happen...not me.
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