Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Top 15 Bullpen Prospects - Season 13

Again, my opinion. Guys must project to be a reliever (LR/Setup/Closer) and may not have appeared in an ML game. Enjoy!
1. (prev:1) Guillermo Sivilla New Orleans – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 16 - The top relief prospect in the game. Nasty two-pitch combo. Saved 22 games between Low A and High A with a sub 2.87 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
2. (prev:2) Trever Stratton Buffalo – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 15 – Best closer prospect in the game. Will be an all-star and perennial contender for the Fireman of the Year. A perfect 20 for 20 in saves in AA, although abnormally high ERA and WHIP are concerning.
3. (prev:4) Geraldo Sanchez Florida – IFASea11 – Proj: 79 – ETA – Season 15 –One of the top closer prospects in the game. Should compete for multiple Fireman of the Year awards. Outperformed higher rated prospects in AA.
4. (prev:3) Tom Holmes Oakland – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Versitile enough to fulfill any relief duty. One of the top relief prospects in the game. Looking to rebound from an average season in AA.
5. (prev:7) Gordon Allensworth Vancouver – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – Fireballer that will dominant lefties and hold his own against righties. Solid with all-star potential. A perfect 17 for 17 between High A and AA.
6. (prev: NR) Lorenzo Guillen San Jose - IFASea13 - Proj: 80 - ETA: Season 18 -An absolute steal on the IFA market, He's going to make a lot of owners foolish for blowing their IFA money early in the season.
7. (prev:8) Rex Sweeney Oakland – DraftSea12Rd1* - Proj: 77 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie destined to be one of the top long relievers in
the game. A little weak vs. righties. Solid, but not spectacular, season in AA.
8. (prev:10) Greg Shelley Florida – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 16 – Saved 24 games for the High A Orange. Will be a nice closer for many years. Saved 30 out of 35 games in High A after his trade to Florida.
9. (prev:NR) Ryan Green Cleveland - DraftRd1Sea13 - Proj: 78 - ETA: Season 17 - Could be the best long reliever in the game once he breaks into the ML. Elite control, makeup, and patience.
10. (prev: NR) Yamid Astacio Florida - IFASea13 - Proj: 76 - ETA: Season 19 - Overpaid prospect with the stuff to be elite. May be slowed by inadequate durabiltiy for the bullpen. Solid season in the Rookie league.
11. (prev:13) Willie Martinez Durham – IFASea9 – Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 14 – He saved 23 games for the AA Bears and has a chance to be the closer of the future for Durham. In line for a promotion to teh bigs in Season 14 after a solid AAA campaign.
12. (prev:14) Justin Cedeno Minnesota – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie with great control and vs. RH. Will be a quality Setup man at the worst. Progressing on schedule.
13. (prev:15)Hod Boudreau Durham – DraftSea11Rd2 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 16 – Lefty with one of the top change-ups in the game. Trouble with righties may keep him from closing at the ML level. Solid Season 13 in High A.
14. (prev:12) Quinn Ruebel Vancouver – DraftSea10Rd14 - Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 15 –This draft day gem has a chance to make an impact at the ML level in a setup role. Roughed up in AAA and losing ranking position.
15. (prev: NR) Eswalin Alou New York - IFASea12 - Proj: 74 - ETA: Season 15 - Solid ratings and production makes this newcomer to the list a sure bet for the ML.

Top 25 SP Prospects - End of Season 13

Based on my opinion. Players qualify if they project as a starter and have never played in the ML. Top bullpen prospects are next.......

1. (prev: 1) Phil Corino San Jose – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 14 – ML ready SP that will need at least one more season in AAA in order to reach his potential. In the argument for best pitching prospect in the game. Stellar ERA and whip in AAA did not translate into wins.
2. (prev: 2) Felipe Reyes San Diego – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace, and one of the top SP prospects in the game. Currently in AAA and split time between AA and AAA in Season 13.
3. (prev: 3) Santos Quixote Durham – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj:84 – ETA: Season 14 – Maybe the top SP prospect in the game. Should be a multiple all-star and candidate for the Cy Young. Sub 2.00 ERA and sub 1.00 whip in AA.
4. (prev: 5) Junior Valdivia San Diego – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 85 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace that, combined with Reyes, will give San Diego the top 1-2 rotation in the game. May not walk a batter his entire career. Nice season between High A and AA.
5. (prev: 4) Malcolm Rowe Syracuse – IFASea12 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 15 – Surefire #1 SP prospect with excellent control and stamina. Injury in rookie year shouldn’t slow him down, but effectiveness vs. righties might. Roughed up in High A but is progressing nicely.
6. (prev: NR) Tom Lieber San Diego - DraftRd1Sea13 - Proj: 86 - ETA: Season 17 - Dominant lefty with the stuff to become a multiple all-star. Should be excellent vs lefties, and very good vs. righties. Elite talent.
7. (prev:7) Steve Hoffman Milwaukee – DraftRd1Sea12 – Proj: 82 – ETA – Season 17 – Excellent #1SP prospect with great splits and two + pitches. Must stay healthy to fulfill his promise. Solid 12 win season in High A.
8. (prev: 6) Edgar Gonzalez Wichita – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 84 – ETA: Season 15 – Should be a #1 SP. Great control and a beast against righties. Rushed through to AAA - could use a couple more seasons in the minors.
9. (prev: NR) Enrique Beltran Durham - DraftRd1Sea13 - Proj: 83 - ETA - Season 17 - 4th pitcher taken in the draft could end up being the best of the lot. Elite durabilty and velocity with very good control and splits. Lack of elite pitched keep this prospect from the Top 5.
10. (prev: 9) Domingo Santos Oakland – IFASea12 - Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #2 SP prospect with great control. Can only throw three pitches. Ready for a promoting to AA after two solid seasons in High A.
11. (prev: NR) Wascar Aparicio New Orleans - IFASea13 - Proj: 81 - ETA: Season 13 - Projections place this lefty at the top of the Freebeads rotation as soon as next season. Only negative is a lack of an elite second pitch.
12. (prev:11) Al Iglesias Florida – IFASea12 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 16 – Should have a long career as a #2 or #3 SP. Might struggle due to lack of speed and number of pitches. Solid, but not spectacular, season in High A should earn him a promotion to AA.
13. (prev:12) Donaldo Moreno Durham – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 15 – Flamethrower destined to be a #2 or #3 SP. Good pitches, good splits, no holes in his game. Threw less than 70 innings last season which could lower his ceiling.
14. (prev:16) Clarence Wood Durham – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #3 SP prospect slowed by a brief stint on the DL this season. Good control and vs RH. Nice season in AA should earn him a promtion to AAA.
15. (prev:17) (prev:19) Jamie Martin Burlington – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 13 – Japanese fireballer prone to the long ball. Should be a solid #3 as long as he stays in a pitcher’s park. NL AAA Cy Young Award winner should make an impact in the ML next season.
16. (prev:10) Ronnie Patrick Wichita – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid #2 SP prospect slowed down by elbow surgery in his rookie year. Good control and vs. RHP. Inexplicably promotesd to the majors, where he was promtly roughed up.
17. (prev:18) Roberto Acosta Florida – IFASea11 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – ML Ready pitcher with questionable stamina for SP. May end up being the best LRA in the game. Traded to Florida, he won 6 out of 7 starts after being promoted to AA.
18. (prev:17) Milt Blake New York – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – Better than his projected overall rating, Blake has the stuff to anchor the Torrones staff for years to come – just don’t ask him to face righties. Solid AAA season, but might have to spend one more season in the minors.
19. (prev: NR) Alex Diaz Burlington - IFASea13 - Proj: 79 - ETA: Season 16 - Solid southpaw with tremendous patience and makeup, though limited by injury concerns and difficulty with righties.
20. (prev:21) Willie Valdivia Buffalo – IFASea11 – Proj:79 – ETA: Season 15 - #3 OR #4 SP Prospect with dominant stuff vs. righties. May struggle with LH dominant line-ups. Roughed up in AA this season dropped his ranking
21. (prev:22) Esteban Alomar San Jose – IFASea12 – Proj: 79 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid contributer that will spend his career in the middle of a rotation. Will struggle at times vs righties. A pitching disaster in Season 13.
22. (prev:23) Pokey Hudson New Orleans – DraftSea11Rd1* - Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 14 – Solid 5 pitch SP with good control and splits. Should peak as a #3 SP. Solid but not spectacular Season 13.
23. (prev: NR)Ed Norton Milwaukee - DraftSea13Rd1 - Proj: 79 - ETA: Season 18 -Solid middle of the rotation injury prone prospect. An awful temper with the mustache to match.
24. (prev: NR) Jackie Wells Wichita - DraftSea13Rd1 - Proj: 79 - ETA: Season 18 - Very good prospect for the middle of the rotation. If he stays healthy and plays in a pitchers park, has a chance to be a solid #2.
25. (prev: NR) J.R. Schmidt Honolulu - DraftSea13Rd1 - Proj: 78 - ETA: Season 18 - Better than his overall rating indicates, has a chance to compete for a middle of the rotation spot and become a solid SP for many seasons.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Hall of Famer: Horacio Frias 83%

Horacio Frias
Toronto
none
Age: 36B/T: R/R
Born: Haina, DO
Position(s): RF/LF/DH
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


As a young man he looked as though he was destined to work in a car battery recycling plant. When the plant closed and his town was left poor and polluted he was forced at the age of 17 to move to Santo Domingo, there he was seen by a scout from the Toronto Toros as he played a game of pick up ball. He signed a minor league contract and at the age of 19 won the High A player of the year when he crushed 54 homeruns in 130 games while batting .377. It took him a few years to get all his skills up to pace for the major league level but at the age of 23 he burst onto the scene and proved to be a winner every year he played. In Addicted Users seasons 1-7 his team averaged over 100 wins and made the playoffs every year. He won two world series over that span batting over .400 with 9 homers, 30 rbi and 7 steals during the playoffs those seasons. After hitting 45 homers in season 5 his skills seemed to drop off the table and he only hit 12 in season 6. He was released at the end of that season but quickly signed with arch rival Minnesota. He batted a solid .305 with 16 homers and helped the Twinkies to a 103 win season. In season 8 he spent the year in the minors as a special assistant and coach. He hung it up for good in season 9 moved back to the Dominican and has set up a wildlife centre close to his home town of Haina.


Stats: 809 runs, 1154 hits, 225 doubles, 63 triples, 275 homers, 852 RBI, 113 steals, .307 AVG
Estimated Career Stats: 1360 runs, 2030 hits, 375 doubles, 100 triples, 500 homers, 1475 RBI, 200 steals, .310 AVG

Awards: 4 X Silver Slugger (1-3,5), 2 X All-Star (2,5)

Records:
Toronto Single Season Records
Runs: (5th) 163
Triples: (4th) 20
HR: (1st) 67
RBI: (1st) 196
OPS: (2nd) 1.194

His 196 RBI also ranks 5th all-time in addicted users
Also holds the Toro record for 7+ plays in RF in one season and has the highest fielding % at .993

Ranks in the top three for Toronto in the following stats: AVG (.307) Hits (998) Runs (717) RBI (780) HR (259)

Season 9 Hall of Fame Results

The results are in and we have our 3rd inductee into the Addicted Users Hall of Fame. Remember 75% is required to make the Hall and 30% is needed to stay on the ballot for next season (maximum 3 times).

Horacio Frias 83%

Players returning for a 2nd Vote:

James Duran 42%
Sam Perry 42%

Players Returning for a 3rd Vote: None

Players who have had 3 seasons of votes or received less then the required 30%

Mo Munro 58%
Cesar James 33%
Benjamin Kirwan 17%
Domingo Franco 8%

So Duran and Perry will return for their 2nd vote next season.
Horacio Frias will be inducted into the hall once it is decided what cap he will wear.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Top 10 Catchers

1. Eric Murphy
Good pitch calling, 30% of base runners thrown out and a consistent 1.000 OPS. Not much more to say.

2. Cesar Amaral
Amaral is the only catcher in the league who is truly above average both offensively and behind the plate. He has thrown out 37% of runners this year to go along with a .344 average.

3. Billy McNamara
A 2 time Gold Glover and 3 time Silver Slugger winner, Mcnamara boasts one of the best batting eyes in baseball to go along with a phenomenal arm behind the plate. The only knock on him is his below average pitch calling abilities.

4. Hector Gonzales
Another huge bat behind the dish, Gonzalez is on pace for another 40 homer season to go along with solid signal calling skills and a passable arm. Despite serious health concerns Hector has yet to miss any significant time in his big league career.

5. Olmedo Rivas
Offensively Rivas is on par with Murphy and Sydney Martin, however the future Hall of Famer’s lack of signal calling skills and average arm make him better suited for DH/1B duties.

6. Sidney Martin
For 75 or so games a season Martin is the best Catcher in baseball. A .310 average, a home run nearly every 10 at bats for his career and stellar defense are only held back by his inability to play more then half a season.

7. Stevie Bonilla
Bonilla is phenomenal with bat in hand and despite an average arm he’s a good pitch caller. Like Martin, Bonilla is held back by durability issues.

8. Clay Charles
Charles has struggled at times at the plate during his career but he seems to be putting it together this year with a .979 OPS. Defensively Clay has a good arm to go along with respectable game calling abilities.

9. Osvaldo Valentin
Valentin is the top defensive catcher in baseball, he has a great arm and outstanding game calling skills. Despite his struggles this year, Valentin has been a solid contributor with the bat in the past.

10. Omar Mercedes
While Mercedes isn’t great defensively, he is passable which is fine considering hes good for a 850+ OPS.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Top 10 Center Fielders

1. Alton Buckley
A former ROY and 5 Time All Star Buckley provides one of the biggest power bats in all of baseball at a premium position. Add in his solid defense and you have the best CF in the game.

2. Willie Johnson
A former 1st Round pick, Willie Johnson is the most complete offensive CF in baseball. Hes combined power, contact, speed and a great eye to post some impressive career numbers at age 27. Defensively, Johnson is below average with the glove and his range is not a great strength.

3. Archie Aldridge
The recently converted SS does it all. A great contact hitter with speed and knowledge on the bases, Alridge is solid in the field and has one of the best outfield arms in all of baseball.

4. Freddy Franco
The defensive whiz is the benchmark for CFers in the field. At the plate Franco hits for a respectable average and launches his fair share of four baggers while piling up the stolen bases.

5. C.J. Weaver
Another converted SS, Weaver combines one of the most powerful swings among ML CFers with good speed and a solid eye. The 10 year vet has a phenomenal arm and gets the job done in the field despite his diminishing range.

6. Ivan Gonzalez
The prototypical leadoff man is good for a solid average/OBP and a tonne of steals every year. Despite his average arm, defensively Gonzalez is one of best in the game.

7. Henry Green
Green is having a phenomenal offensive season and is the front runner for the NL ROY. Defensively however, it doesn’t look as though his glove will play long term in CF.

8. Aramis Vizquel
A former Gold Glover, Vizquel can still get it done in the field and has averaged nearly 30 homers a year over his career.

9. Clayton Hairston
While hes lost a step… or 5, Hairston, one of the top leadoff men in the game is having a career year despite a recent trip to the DL.

10. Alex Jose
Despite struggling versus righties, Jose is generally good for a .800 OPS to go along with his average defense.

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Bum Clark Award

The Leagues Best Overall Shortstop

1. Sparky Wasdin By far and away the best fielding SS in the game. Made two errors in one game to double his total to 4. Having a career year with the bat on pace for over 25 homers 70 rbi and a career high .281 avg.
2. Julius Serrano Smooth fielder with a loads of range. Hitting a solid .283 with 8 homers but only 23 RBI. The 11 steals are nice but getting caught 14 times is a huge downside.
3. Marshall Ferrell His 17 errors and .958 fielding percentage are the only things keeping him from the #1 spot. 12 homers 46 RBI 15 steals and a .289 avg make him one of the best offensive SS in the game.
4. Yuniesky Franco Almost identical a fielder to Ferrell, 17 errors and a .957 fielding %. His bat is almost the same as well 15 homers, 45 RBI, 13 steals and a .286 AVG. It would be easy to confuse these two players with each other.
5. Jamie Leonard Burst onto the scene last season as one of the more flashy fielders. Has made 11 errors but has good range and a solid .973 %. Is batting a solid .310 but has only 1 homer and 5 steals. Is on pace for over 70 RBi though.
6. Ricky Lawton Very average fielder, 15 errors and a .960%. A skilled bats men is one of the games leading hitters (.356 avg). His carrer high of 31 homers is a long way off as he has only 3 this season to go with 8 steals.
7. Francis Bennett Next to Sparky Wasdin is probably the best fielder in the game. Has 4 errors and an amazing .990 %. Too bad his .259 avg and 2 homers don’t add much else to his resume.
8. Archie Aldridge Middle of the pack fielder 12 errors, .962%. Hitting an incredible .340 with 5 homers and 15 steals.
9. Edgardo Machado Yes he is left handed, and yes he doesn’t get to all the balls he should. Does have a solid .964 % despite his 27 bad plays. Is one of the best overall hitting SS in the game however, 10 homers 43 RBI and 6 steals with a .288 AVG.
10. Lawrence Gwynn His shaky fielding (.958%, 17 errors) are almost offset but his amazing bat. .321 AVG, 14 homers 38 RBI. If he could steal even a little he would be in the top 5.

AL West 1/3 Pole analysis

AL WEST

SAN JOSE GIANTS- as proclaimed by nzballa on the chat, the West has the 3 best records in the league as of this writing. San Jose currently sports the leagues best record at 44-24. Their .647 Act Pct is slightly better than expected(.638), but the difference is insignificant. A big reason for their league best record is an excellent 14-8 showing in one-run games. While a mere 2 games over .500 on the road, they are a scorching 27-9 in the friendly confines. The offense has been decidedly average. The Giants .273 BA and .440 SLG ranks 13th. Hits(676) are 14th and HRs(93) 13th. They are next to last in SBs with 13. All that means is that their pitching, always a strength, is excellent. The ERA(3.73) leads the league by a wide margin. They rank 1st in OAV(.273), OBP(.319), SLG(.407, & WHIP(1.32). SP Dave Wilkinson leads the staff with a 9-0 record and a 2.42 ERA. He's already been named Pitcher of the Week twice this season. Bu a 60 stamina has lead to only about 5 1/2 IP per start, which puts his fate in the hands of the relievers a bit too often. Sean Brown is 9-1 and his .226 OAV is 3rd in the league. Shane Rolls must be pitching in awful luck. His 5-8 record belies his excellence. A .220 OAV and 1.09 WHIP are 2nd in the league along with a 3.34 ERA. Raymond Morton(6-4, .236 OAV) rounds out the starting staff as nz has gone with just 4 SPs so far. Let's see if they have the durability to do that all season. Closer Alberto Aparicio has been sub par, going 15-19 in saves with a .306 OAV. The rest of the relief corps has somewhat high OAVs, so San Jose's success thus far must be attributed to their stellar starting pitching. One concern as the season progresses could be the rather low STA of those SPs. It may put too much strain on the RPs. But, so far so good.

VANCOUVER VILLANS- jvburns boys are right on SJs heels with the 2nd best record in the league(43-25). Even with that, they are playing worse(.632) than EXP(.679). They are playing well both at home(24-12) and on the road(19-13). One reason their ACT is worse than the EXP might be their 9-9 record in 1-run games. The Villains score a lot of runs(454, 2nd). Tied for the league lead in BA with NY(.292), 1st in OBP(.368), and 4th in SLG(.488). They have 50 SBs to only 13 CS, an excellent ratio. The pitching has been very good too. The 4.19 ERA is 2nd as is the RA(312). The OBP(.327), OSLG(.429), & WHIP(1.36) are all 3rd in the league and the OAV(.270) is 4th. That's very good balance. The offense is lead by young RF Rob Willis(.366, 21 HR, 68 RBI, .692 SLG) who was named week 2 Player of the Week. His 1.132 OPS is 2nd in the league. He is ably supported by DH Bump Sabel(.341, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 1.004 OPS), CF Alton Buckley(18 HRs), and speedy 3B Al Canseco(20 SBs). SP Harry Seneca has a stellar .213 OAV to go with a 7-3 record. The starting staff spreads the wealth with Shane Coffman(8 wins), Johnny Richardson(7), FA Willie Ordonez(5), and Damion Sweeney(5) all winning consistently. Formerly a stalwart of Vancouver's starting staff, aging Trevor Roa has stepped in to the closer role and is doing a good job with 13 saves in 15 tries. jv burns has put together a very good club with few weaknesses and must be considered a solid choice to go all the way this season.

BOISE BROWNCOATS- Evan43 always fields a good team and this year is no exception. While adequate at home(17-12), they are playing great on the road(25-14). They currently sport a league best 17-6 in 1-run games. their 42-26 record is the leagues 3rd best. But scoring only 22 more runs than they have given up(392RS-370RA) may be a cause for concern. They are playing .618 ball as opposed to a .529 EXP. Boise leads the league in SBs(86) but is last in HRs(76). The OBP(.347) & OPS(.777) are near the bottom of the league rankings, but most other offensive categories are at or slightly above average. Most of the pitching stats rank near the middle of the pack also, but they have given up a league low 77 HRs and the OSLG ranks 4th(.434). CF Clayton Hairston is hitting .362 with 17 SBs. RF Jose Marquez has 22 SBs. 5 time All Star LF Alfonso Tejera has 13 HRs. 4 time MVP C Olmedo Rivas is 32 and may be showing signs of wear. His BA(.299), SLG(.502), and OPS(.898) are all below his lifetime standards. 4 time All Star SP Bobby Stephenson(8-1) has been great so far. His 2.12 ERA, .212 OAV, .268 OBP, 1.04 WHIP, & .315 OSLG all lead the league and may lead to his 2nd Cy Young award. But Joey Montgomery(4-5, 6.21 ERA) is ancient and may be near the end of a fantastic career, and Artie Dimaggio(3-5, 6.42 ERA) has been sub par thus far. An injury to FA Tony Perez has hurt. MR Darren Trujillo(9-2) and Closer Felipe Cairo(21/23 Saves) have been very good. They may need more offensive production to contend all year in this tough division.

SCOTTSDALE SUNNY- mdtiger took over this club after last year's owner quit in the frustration of being in the league's toughest division. It's going to take some time to become a contender here. So far the results are not too encouraging. The .382 ACT PCT is well below the .450 EXP PCT. The .269 BA ranks 14th, SLG(.448) is 12th. But many of the other offensive rankings are not too far below the league average. Almost all pitching rankings are in the bottom third of the league. On the up side, the contracts he inherited don't look awful. Former ROY & 3 time MVP RF Ramiro Guevara's ratings may have slipped a bit, but not his production(.307, 26 HR, 61 RBI, 1.000 OPS). He may be the kind of player mdtiger could land a boatload of prospects for. An All Star last season, DH Jumbo Flores(.351, 12 HR, 1.080 OPS) is only 26. 23 year old 3B Zach Tatum(20 HRs) has plenty of power, but may never hit for much of a BA. SP Jesus Benitez leads the staff with 6 wins and, at 24, looks like a guy you could build a staff around. Another keeper is Gorkys Fernandez(2-8, .271 OAV) who, at 23, could develop into a solid mid-rotation SP. Carson Hoffman has done OK in the closer role(9-11). Mike Kelton, Grover O'Brien, Luther Rupe & Fritz Starr might be of some value to a contender down the stretch and could bring some prospects in a trade. While there are some bright spots, this is a team that needs a significant overhaul to become a contender in this division.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Season 13 AL South 1/3 Season Analysis

At over 50 games into season 13, let's atake a look at the teams in the

AL SOUTH

Florida Fire Sailfish- Coming off a season 12 division title, jmercer77's squad once again looks like they might be the team to beat in the AL South. Currently holding a slight lead over the surprising Cheeseheads, the Fish are playing slightly better than RS/RA would suggest(.537 act-.514 exp). That might be because they have played more games at home(22-13) than on the road(7-12) so far. They sport a potent offense(324 RS-4th), but are giving up far too many(315-12th). The Sailfish currently lead the league in BA(.295) and OBP(.365). The pitching is having it's problems, though, with a 5.44ERA(11th), .294 OAV(14th), .368 OBP(last), .485 OSLG(12th),& 1.62 WHIP(15th). These stats will have to improve or the pressure will be on the offense all year. Their FPct is right about at the league average. Former MVP and ROY RF Miguel Palacios has been a beast as usual, leading the league in HR(27),RBI(70), & OPS(1.215) to go with a .343 BA. DH Lance Kelleher(.350, 12 HR, 1.018 OPS) & 5-time All Star 2B Bruce King(.333, 12 HR, 10 SB) have been a stellar supporting cast. Ivan Gonzalez leads the league with 17 SB. 5 regulars are batting over .300. SP FA signee Diego Nunez(0-6, 6.46 ERA) has been a big disappointment. FA SP Phillip Haney is 5-1, but with a 5.82 ERA and .300 OAV, it looks like he has benefited from the potent Fish offense. SP Esteban Lee is solid(6-4, .264 OAV) as is Bob Kelly(5-3, 3.56 ERA)and FA RP Buddy Henley(3.86 ERA,6-0, 2 Svs) has been excellent. But the staff as a whole has given up nearly 100 more hits than IP, and that's not good.

Monterrey Cheeseheads- After finishing a distant 4th last season, vector21 looks like he has his club headed in the right direction in his 4th season at the helm. This is another club that likes home cookin'(19-14 H, 9-12 R). Currently 1 game behind Florida, the Heads are right about at their expectations(.519 act-.511 exp). They are 12-9 in 1-run games, which always helps. While in the middle of the pack in BA and OBP, they are slugging with the best(2nd in HR(105), SLG(.504), & OPS(.823). They are right near league averages in most pitching categories , but the OAV(.288) is a bit high. Signed 5 ML FAs and they have mostly worked out for the best so far. 7 time All Star LF Diego Moreno is batting .313. 3 time All Star SS/CF Mark Jones has 15 HR & is hitting .317. FA SPs Earl Slaughter(3.74 ERA) & Lewis Locko(3-3, 3.57 ERA) have been solid. C Aaron Bradshaw(.354), 2B Gary Hardy(17 HR), SS/CF Dolf Titan & RF Juan Santana(13 HRs each) have provided the power. SP Tom Benes has a 3.59 ERA but the starters have all pretty much lost as much as they have won. Closer Reid Bagwell is 9-12 in saves. One future problem may be that the ML roster only has 7 players under the age of 27.

New Orleans Freebeads- joshoakley's squad was a WS participant 3 seasons back, but are struggling at .500 so far this year. Still, they are only 2 games back in this hotly contested division. Managing to play above EXP to date(.500 act-.465 exp). They are scoring plenty of runs(338, 2nd) but are giving up far too many(368, 15th). They are in the top 1/3 of the league in most offensive categories. The pitching has it's problems. ERA(5.93, 15th), OAV(.307, last), OBP(.365, 15th), SLG(.510, 15th). Get the picture. Lead offensively by C Hector Gonzales(.328, 16 HR, 1.051 OPS), and 3B Bill Mercedes(.305, 14 HR). Part time closer Leonardo Stockton(7-9 Svs, .250 OAV, 3.44 ERA) has been one of the only pitching bright spots. With 140+ more hits than IP, the pitching staff is putting far too much pressure on the offense to contend all season.

Louisville Sluggers- A recent slide has dropped davidbutler9's club a couple of games below .500, but they still hover only 3 games off the pace. They've managed to post a winning record at home(15-10), but have struggled on the road(11-18). Their .481 act pct is better than the .422 exp pct. They have scored the fewest runs in the league(249). The BA(.268, 15th), OBP(.332, 15th), SLG(.437 13th), HR(69, 14th), Hits(507 15th), OPS(.768 14th) are all near the bottom of the league. (Aside...as I write these stats, I can't understand how david beats my Torrones like a drum every time we play! But he does!). The pitching is very close to the league average in most categories except for OAV(.269 4th) and Hits(506 4th). They are one of the best fielding teams in the league, with a .988 FPct and only 25 errors. FA signee 2B Virgil Rodriguez, a former MVP, 4 time All Star and 5 time Silver Slugger, is carrying the offense(16 HR, 55 RBI), but that 5 year contract may come back to haunt the Sluggers by the time it's over. The SPs have all been pretty average, but the relief corps has had some bright spots. Closer Moises Rijo is 12-13 in saves(.164 OAV, 1.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP). RP Joaquin Park(.154 OAV, 0.77 WHIP, 2.08 ERA), and RP David Hayashi(.143 OAV, 0.73 WHIP, 0.00 ERA) have been nearly unhittable. While showing improvement this season, david will have to make some major upgrades to the offense to contend.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Season 13 AL North 1/4 pole analysis

AL NORTH

Minnesota Twinkies- After finishing a distant 2nd to Toronto in the AL North last season, brentnet's Twinkies are intent on reclaiming the division crown this year. They currently sit atop the division with a 4 game lead. They are well ahead of their expected winning pct at the moment(.600 act-.546 exp). Always a powerhouse offensively, this year is no exception. They lead the lead in HRs(106) SLG(.536), and OPS(.884) and are 4th in RS(287). With that comes another league leading stat, however. They also lead in K's with 323. Minny is doing most of it's damage offensively. It's pitching staff has been respectable with most rankings in the middle to top 1/3 of the league. They can't be happy with a 5.37 ERA, though and the defense is 14th in the league with a .978 FPct & 39 Es. Leading the charge on offense are CF Gregg Foster(.333 & all 7 of the team's SBs), perennial Silver Slugger DH Gerry Allen(.331, 12 HR, 1.013 OPS), RF Kelly Ardoin(.313, .688 Slg, 14 HR, 1.069 OPS), & 2nd year 1B Billy Corey(19 HR, 51 RBI are both 2nd in the league). The Twinkies already have 5 players with double-digit HR totals. The starting pitchers include 3 time All Star Herman Cox, former All Star & Gold Glove T.J. Shaw, & up & comer Mel Pearson. 36 year old Miguel Acevedo, a 7 time All Star is handling full time closer duty for the first time since season 1, but is doing just fine so far with 11 saves in 11 tries. With long time rival Toronto having a down season, the road to the division title looks wide open for the Twinkies.

Wichita Waffle House Posse- While they may not be ready to compete for the division crown just yet, early season results for sccrplyr16's club are encouraging thus far. They finished 14 games under .500 last year, but are above .500 in the early going this season. So far the Posse is playing well above their Exp Pct(.511 act-.474 exp) having allowed 13 more runs than they have scored(247 RS-260 RA). Most offensive stats are average to a bit below. The .276 BA is 13th in the league. It's the pitching that has been the prime reason for their success so far. The ERA is 6th(4.97), WHIP T5th(1.49). The OAV(.288), OSLG(.481), & HR(76) will have to improve if they hope to maintain their upward swing. The defensive stats are right at the league average. Offensive stars include RF Dom Coscarart(.321, 11 HR, 8 SB), & C Justin Winston(14 HR). Huge FA signee SP Julio Cedeno(0-3, .320 OAV, 1.73 WHIP, 5.43 ERA) has been a big disappointment so far. 34 year old Matt Orosco(5-1, 3.79 ERA) has been a pleasant surprise. Placido Hernandez(403, 3.64 ERA) has been solid. Closer Fernando DeJesus(8 of 12 SV/OPP) has been a bit shaky after a solid season last year. The Posse appears to be headed in the right direction, but may still be a few years away.

Toronto Toros- goldenboy 69's Toros have always been a contender, having made the playoffs in every season in the league's history. That may be about to change as gb69 has proclaimed early on that this will be a rebuilding year. Currently, the Toros sit at 18-27, 9 games behind division leading rival Minnesota. Their EXP is right on the money(.400 act-.406 exp) based on 228 RS vs 276 RA. Toronto is still producing in some offensive categories, 4th in BA(.291), but the rest of the stats are well below their norm. The 228 RS ranks 13th, and that's putting too much strain on the pitching staff. And that staff has not responded. 12th in ERA(5.61), 13th in RA(276) offsets other stats that are at or better than the league average. The fielding pct(.980) and E's(34) have been sub-par, each ranking 12th. All is not bleak, however. There's still talent here. 3B Trevor Thebeau(.340) & DH Don Kroeger(.333, 1.019 OPS) have been pleasant surprises. 1B Ron Adams(.325, 9 HR) and RF Douglas Stokes(12 HR) have been solid. The problem has been not enough production to go with those high BAs. With only 2 pitchers on the staff with ERAs under 4(both are RPs), there is some work needed here. FA signee SP Mac Morris(2-4, 5.72 ERA) has been underwhelming thus far. 4 time All Star SP Felipe Vincente is 36 and, while still effective, is not a long term solution. Rookie Delino Morales may have some upside. Olmedo Molina is an up and comer. 6 time All star, 38 year old Julio Fuentes is handling the closer role(11 of 13 Sv/Opp), but is at the end of the road. There is not one pitcher on the staff at the moment with a winning record. Looks like gb69 has his work cut out for him to get this team back in contention.

Milwaukee alcoholics- jeff2106 took over this squad last year and has some work to do to turn this club around. Strangely, jeff signed 7 FA this off season that are all on the far side of 30! At 16-29, they are playing well below expectations(.356 act-,427 exp). There is not much to talk about offensively. BA is decent at .278. But OPB(.334, T15th), SLG(.433, 14th), OPS(.767, 14th), Runs(214, 15th), HR(57, 15th), BB(124, last) have room for improvement. At least they don't strike out much(244, 1st). Things are better on the pitching side. The alkies are 4th in ERA(4.83), 6th in OAV(.278) & RA(249) & T5th in HR(63). The fielding betrays the staff, however, sitting 13th in FPct(.979) and E's(36). Offensive stars include 2 time All Star 3B Pablo Chavez(.361, 10 HR), LF Abraham Fonda(.335, 8 HR, 6 SB), & 2B Javy Iglesias(.312, 10 HR). SP Russell Coomer stats(.233 OAV, .389 OSLG) would indicate better than his actual 2-6 record. Omar Navarro(4-3, 4.26 ERA) has been solid, but FA signee Pedro Matos(.378 OAV, 8.53 ERA) has been a disaster so far. This team is a ways away from contending at this point and needs a lot of new blood.

1/4 Pole AL East Analysis-Season 13

We are about 40+ games into season 13, so let's take a look at how American League East teams are faring so far.

AL EAST

Columbus Clippers- Currently tied for 1st at 26-18. Their Exp Pct based on RS-RA(251-193) should be .624 but they are currently a bit below expectations at .591. They are near the top of the league in many pitching categories thus far. ERA 4.23(2nd), WHIP 1.36(2nd), OAV .260(2nd), OBP .327(2nd), SLG .416(1st), RUNS 193(1st), HR 52(1st), K's 278(3rd). The hitting has been good too, with most offensive stats in the top 1/3 of the league. Waiver wire pickup Fergie Chouinard leads the team with 6 wins. Perennial All-Star Pedro Alarcon is sporting a 2.80 ERA and closer Rob Patrick is 12 for 12 in Saves. The offense is lead by last year's MVP, 1B Dennis Newfield(.311, 9 HRs), DH Joey Cannon(.364, 13 HRs), & LF Billy Ledee(.313, 9 HRs). Team wide there is little speed. Of some concern might the the age of some important cogs in the pitching staff(Walt Parnell-35, Raymond Smith-35, Al Lira-37). Tied for the league best in E's with 20 and FPct .988. Grissom97's club is a very solid team that has won a number of division titles. The East figures to be a season long 2-team battle with NY for the division.

New York Torrones- This club is off to a much better start than last season. After losing the division by 1 game in year 12, and the getting swept by the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, the Torrones are hoping for a different result this season. Unlike Columbus, NY is playing well based mainly on a powerful offense. They are 2nd in BA(,298), & hits, 3rd in OBP(.361), SLG(.502), OPS(.863), & HR(83). While 4th in RA(229), the rest of the pitching stats are mostly just a bit better than league averages. They lead the division in RS at 272 while allowing 229 and their winning pct is just about as expected(.591 act/..585 exp). Led offensively by former MVP Tanner Magnante(.345, 13 HRs, 1.068 OPS), Neifi Espinosa(.333, 12 HRs), Dan Jones(.320, 17 HRs, 1.031 OPS), & Danny Fox(.311, 13 HRs). A solid starting staff is lead by A.J. Freeman(7-1, 3.96 ERA, .254 OAV). Soph Glendon Green hopes to repeat his rookie season success. During spring training, traded for solid Victor Colome. Starting 5 is rounded out by solid SPs Vince Livingstone and Hipolito Martin. Middle relief may be a bit suspect, but up & comer B.C. Garland should be a stellar closer for years to come. Team fielding is just a bit better than the league avg. With only one player on the ML roster over 30 years old, the Torrones are primed to make a serious run this season.

Boston Marriages(formerly Greenwell Gators)- This team was thankfully taken over by solid owner hypnotoad after a disastrous 1+ year run by it's former owner(who shall remain nameless). While this will take some work, there are a number of good players on this squad. Their rudderless club was playing below expectations(.364-.401), but hypnotoad already has them playing better. Team has some serious offensive talent with DH Stevie Bonilla(.372, 13 HRs, 1.126 OPS), All-Star 3B Vin Austin(.333), LF Homer Plesac(.331), and RF Parker Bennett(.329, 13 HR, 1.050 OPS). Former ROY 1B F.P. Koskie is off to a slow start but has too much talent not to rebound. The pitching, however, is another story, wallowing near the bottom of the league in many categories. No amount of hitting will offset a team 6.01 ERA! This staff is in need of a major overhaul before this club can become a serious contender. The fielding also leaves a lot to be desired with a .975 FPct that is next to last. Hypnotoad has a lot of work in front of him, but I'm sure he is up to the task.

Norfolk Warheads- After a 100 win season and a division title in season 9, things have not gone too well for chrishoiles club. The last 2 seasons have been identical 84-78, 3rd place finishes and this year looks like it could be worse. They are off to a bad start with a last place 14-31 start that will be hard to recover from. They are playing worse than expectations to this point(.311 act-.363 exp). The offense is last in BA(.250), OBP(.321), SLG(.405), OPS(.726), RS(205) & Hits(396). The pitching has it's woes too, with a 5.94 ERA(14th), RA 273(12th), HR 95(last), K's 252(15th), OAV .290(12th), SLG .516(15th). FA signings Chip Stark, Jim Cintron, & Marty Burns have not worked out well. Little to speak of offensively(Edgard Flores 11 HRs) or pitching-wise(Ned Little 3-1, 3.86 ERA). Ironically, they are near the top of the league in FPct(.986, 3rd) and have only made 23 Es(T2nd). But this club may be in need of a major overhaul.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Hall of Fame Ballot Season 9

Season 9 Hall Of Fame Ballot

So same deal as in the past, GM's will be contacted if they are eligible to vote. 75% of votes is needed for induction to the Hall and 25% is needed to return for the next seasons vote.

Last Time on the Ballot
Horacio Frias
Mo Munro
Cesar James

1st Time Nominees
James Duran
Domingo Franco
Benjamin Kirwan
Jerry LaRue
Vic Lee
Herman Lincoln
Endy Mailman
Javier Mateo
Jamie McCartney
Willis McConnell
Sam Perry
Phil Peters
Todd Simpson
Jimmy Simon
Clarence Smith
Thomas Thurman

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Top 15 Bullpen Prospects

Again, my opinion. Guys must project to be a reliever (LR/Setup/Closer) and may not have appeared in an ML game. Enjoy!
1. Guillermo Sivilla New Orleans – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 16 - The top relief prospect in the game. Nasty two-pitch combo.
2. Trever Stratton Buffalo – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 15 – Best closer prospect in the game. Will be an all-star and perennial contender for the Fireman of the Year
3. Tom Holmes Helena – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Versitile enough to fulfill any relief duty. One of the top relief prospects in the game.
4. Geraldo Sanchez Florida – IFASea11 – Proj: 79 – ETA – Season 15 – One of the top closer prospects in the game. Should compete for multiple Fireman of the Year awards.
5. Daniel Poppell Cleveland – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – AAA prospect that could use one more year to hone his craft. Dominant vs. righties.
6. Reid Bagwell Monterrey – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – Control specialist with the stuff to be dominant. Should make an all-star team or two.
7. Gordon Allensworth Vancouver – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 15 – Fireballer that will dominant lefties and hold his own against righties. Solid with all-star potential.
8. Rex Sweeney Louisville – DraftSea12Rd1* - Proj: 77 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie destined to be one of the top long relievers in
the game. A little weak vs. righties.
9. Jim Mathews Honolulu – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 13 - The LuauDawgs closer of the future should make the ML roster next season and compete for a couple of Fireman of the Year awards.
10. Greg Shelley Syracuse – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 16 – Saved 24 games for the High A Orange. Will be a nice closer for many years.
11. Willie Alarcon Vancouver – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 76 – ETA: Season 14 – Fireballer that should win the closing job by Season 14. Great control and extremely tough on lefties.
12. Quinn Ruebel Boise – DraftSea10Rd14 - Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 15 – This draft day gem has a chance to make an impact at the ML level in a setup role.
13. Willie Martinez Durham – IFASea9 – Proj: 73 – ETA: Season 14 – He saved 23 games for the AA Bears and has a chance to be the closer of the future for Durham.
14. Justin Cedeno Minnesota – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 17 – Talented rookie with great control and vs. RH. Will be a quality Setup man at the worst.
15. Hod Boudreau Durham – DraftSea11Rd2 – Proj: 74 – ETA: Season 16 – Lefty with one of the top change-ups in the game. Trouble with righties may keep him from closing at the ML level.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Top 25 SP Prospects

Based on my opinion. Players qualify if they project as a starter and have never played in the ML. Top bullpen prospects are next.......

1. Phil Corino San Jose – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 14 – ML ready SP that will need at least one more season in AAA in order to reach his potential. In the argument for best pitching prospect in the game.
2. Felipe Reyes San Diego – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj: 86 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace, and one of the top SP prospects in the game.
3. Santos Quixote Durham – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj:84 – ETA: Season 14 – Maybe the top SP prospect in the game. Should be a multiple all-star and candidate for the Cy Young.
4. Malcolm Rowe Syracuse – IFASea12 – Proj: 87 – ETA: Season 15 – Surefire #1 SP prospect with excellent control and stamina. Injury in rookie year shouldn’t slow him down, but effectiveness vs. righties might.
5. Junior Valdivia San Diego – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 85 – ETA: Season 15 – A future ace that, combined with Reyes, will give San Diego the top 1-2 rotation in the game. May not walk a batter his entire career.
6. Edgar Gonzalez Wichita – DraftRd1Sea12 - Proj: 84 – ETA: Season 15 – Should be a #1 SP. Great control and a beast against righties.
7. Steve Hoffman Milwaukee – DraftRd1Sea12 – Proj: 82 – ETA – Season 17 – Excellent #1SP prospect with great splits and two + pitches. Must stay healthy to fulfill his promise.
8. Edgar Gonzalez Wichita – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj:84 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #2 SP prospect with great control and vs. RH. Low stamina and vs. LH might prevent him from becoming a star.
9. Domingo Santos Helena – IFASea12 - Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #2 SP prospect with great control. Can only throw three pitches.
10. Ronnie Patrick Wichita – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid #2 SP prospect slowed down by elbow surgery in his rookie year. Good control and vs. RHP.
11. Al Iglesias Florida – IFASea12 – Proj: 83 – ETA: Season 16 – Should have a long career as a #2 or #3 SP. Might struggle due to lack of speed and number of pitches.
12. Donaldo Moreno Durham – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 15 – Flamethrower destined to be a #2 or #3 SP. Good pitches, good splits, no holes in his game.
13. Bob Kelly Florida – DraftSea8Rd1 – Proj:83 – ETA: Season 13 – Hampered by a labrum tear early in his career, Kelly should make the big squad next season as a #3 SP.
14. Stuffy Lombardi New Orleans – DraftSea10Rd1 – Proj:82 – ETA: Season 13 – He should make his debut for the Freebeads next season in the middle of the rotation. A little weak vs. lefties.
15. Jarrett Stechschulte Boise – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj:81 – ETA: Season 13 – Solid #3 SP prospect limited by his stamina. Should have a long ML career.
16. Clarence Wood Durham – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj: 81 – ETA: Season 15 – Solid #3 SP prospect slowed by a brief stint on the DL this season. Good control and vs RH.
17. Milt Blake New York – DraftSea11Rd1 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – Better than his projected overall rating, Blake has the stuff to anchor the Torrones staff for years to come – just don’t ask him to face righties.
18. Roberto Acosta Syracuse – IFASea11 – Proj: 80 – ETA – Season 14 – ML Ready pitcher with questionable stamina for SP. May end up being the best LRA in the game.
19. Jamie Martin Burlington – IFASea10 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 13 – Japanese fireballer prone to the long ball. Should be a solid #3 as long as he stays in a pitcher’s park.
20. Daniel Fitzgerald Florida – DraftSea9Rd1 – Proj: 80 – ETA: Season 14 – Solid but not spectacular. Destined for the middle of the rotation and should contribute for many seasons.
21. Willie Valdivia Buffalo – IFASea11 – Proj:79 – ETA: Season 15 - #3 OR #4 SP Prospect with dominant stuff vs. righties. May struggle with LH dominant line-ups.
22. Esteban Alomar San Jose – IFASea12 – Proj: 79 – ETA: Season 16 – Solid contributer that will spend his career in the middle of a rotation. Will struggle at times vs righties.
23. Pokey Hudson New Orleans – DraftSea11Rd1* - Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 14 – Solid 5 pitch SP with good control and splits. Should peak as a #3 SP.
24. Lee Helling Florida – DraftSea12Rd1 – Proj:79 – ETA: - Season 17 – Groundballer that will struggle vs. righties. Destined for the back of the rotation.
25. Emmanuel Nunez Milwaukee – IFASea12 – Proj: 78 – ETA: Season 14 – AAA SP that could use one more year in the minors. Contol and vs. RH issues will keep him towards the back of the rotation.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Draft Report Season 12, Arizona, Boise

Arizona Aeronautics
1st Rnd, 12th, Louis White Solid middle of rotation pitcher that will win more then he losses at the big league level. With a solid lineup behind him could win 15 a season.
2nd Rnd,69th, Stump Borbon Another starting pitcher, probably a 5 or a very good long relief guy. Need to work on his 3rd pitch.
3rd Rnd,101st, Calvin Harris Might actually be better then Stump. Could eventually slide in behind White into the 4 hole of this rotation. No real weakness.
4th Rnd,133rd, Lorenzo Cubillan Somewhat wild but if he can harness his control could battle for the 5 spot in a few years. Solid splits and 3 good pitches.
Grade: B+, 4 potential Major league starters. Even if only half of them pan out...that is pretty good. This makes two solid drafts in a row for Arizona. They could back on their way to the top again.

Boise Browncoats
1st Rnd,18th, Jimmy Poole Mostly speed, with a side of extra speed. Will probably end up in LF were his weak arm wont kill them. Could bat lead off or 9th, either way he will steal many bases.
1st Rnd,32nd, Dan Gonzales Hard throwing lefty, wont be an ace, but could win 15+games fairly easily. A solid late 1st round pick.
1stRnd,40th, Adam McCorley Has a great upside, but for now his inability to get out lefties will keep him from having much more of an impact beside as a bullpen innings eater.
1st Rnd,44th, Tom Tomko Another solid leftie starter. Probably at best a 5 or LR guy, excellent control and a 5 pitch selection will have him in the majors sooner then later.
1st Rnd,57th, Damion Westbrook Mid-range SS, neither bad or good with the glove, hits enough to play but probably not to start. Has decent pop and is a smart baserunner.
2nd Rnd,77th, Walter Figga Another hard throwing lefty. Can throw until the cows come home and for that reason will get a chance to start in the bigs at some point. Could be a sleeper.
Draft Grade: A, after a bad draft last year Boise stockpiled some picks and put them to work this season. Plenty of quality pitchers and a possible lead off hitter, not to mention a new option at Short Stop. Great draft by one of the leagues powerhouses.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Hall of Famer: Buddy Scalici 83%

Buddy Scalici
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Age: 36B/T: S/R
Born: Bronx, NY
Position(s): CF
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


He joined the league a picture of health and strength, but by the end had played so hard he looked ten years older then he actually was. Bad knees and a arm that could barely find the cut off man ended his career prematurely but not before he had posted some of the greatest numbers of all time.

Born and raised in the bronx, his brash personality made him a perfect fit for Philadelphia were he was drafted and played most of his career. The six years we have complete stats for them while he played they never won less then 85 games and won their division three times with over 94 wins each time. He set many single and career Philadelphia records while playing their as well. The team however was moving in season 7 to Norfolk and out of respect to Buddy, who had a wife and three children living in Penn State, agreed to trade him to Pittsburgh. Norfolk dropped to third and only won 74 games without him.

Pittsburgh gave up a young third baseman by the name of Tarrik Hayes to get Buddy and even though his skills were diminishing they thought he could bring some extra juice as they had been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs the season before. They fell short, finishing in third with a respectable 86 wins. Buddy playing most RF and LF batted well enough as he swatted 20 homers and drove in 75 runs but saw his average drop to .252 the lowest by 40 points in his career.

In the off season Pittsburgh declined his option and it wasn't until late in August that Detroit signed him to deal as they made a late season push for the playoffs. He batted only 5 times but drove in the winning run in a game that they won on the last weekend to help secure first place. He was left off the playoff roster and retired that off season.

Career Stats

3811 ab's, 820 runs, 1203 Hits, 222 Doubles, 50 Triples, 298 Homers, 890 RBI, .316 AVG
Estimated Career Stats: 6010 Ab's, 1300 runs, 1900 Hits, 360 Doubles, 80 Triples, 478 Homers, 1370 RBI, .316 AVG

Batted a solid .303 in the post season with 14 homers and 29 RBI in 119 ab's

Awards
4 X All-Star
2 X Silver Slugger (CF)
1 X MVP (2)

Records

Philadelphia
2nd,3rd,4th Single AVG (.346,.346,.345)
3rd Single Doubles (40)
4th,5th Single Hits (192,186)
4th Hit Streak (20 Games)
1st,2nd,3rd,4th Single Homers (58,50,47,46)
1st,3rd,4th Single OBP (.437,.418,.409)
1st,3rd,5th Single Runs (144,133,123)
1st,2nd,3rd,4th Single RBI (160,154,138.134)
2nd, 3rd Single Triples (17,15)
Also has the highest career avg in Philly (.326), most homers (278), runs (734), rbi (814) and Triples (47). He is also 2nd in Hits (1067) and double (193).

His Career OBPS is 3rd best in ML history (1.032) and his SLG is 5th (.635).

Friday, July 10, 2009

Hall of Famer: Carl West 100%

Carl West
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Age: 39B/T: R/R
Born: Fresno, CA
Position(s):1B >
View Hardball Dynasty Profile


By no means the biggest 1st baseman of all time at just 5'11 and under 200lbs. He was one of the most feared hitters in baseball and the effects he had on the game can still be felt today. Spent 13 years in the major leagues but only 8 of those seasons are on the books. Was traded before Addicted Users 1st season started by MGreenwell in Salem to the Toronto Toros in a 3 for 1 deal that other then West the main player was Ricky Lawton who some day may find himself in the Hall as well. With West on the team the Toros won 215 games over the next two seasons and went as far as the League Championships both times. West hilighted season two by winning his 1st MVP award.

After season 2 with a contract that was about to expire and the Toros worried about losing him to free agency he was traded again. This time to the Durham Pilots (now Toledo). Toronto packaged West with another player, Juan Bravo, for three up and comers, Jon Stern, D'Angelo Figureoa, and Tomas Gandarilla. Carl didn't fail the fans in Durham, the Pilots won a team record 115 games, an incredible 42 games more then the season before and 22 more then they would next year without West. He got his team all the way to the World Series this time, but lost to his old team Toronto. Carl batted .373 in both the regular season and playoffs to win his 2nd straight MVP award.

In season 4 he at the age of 33 he signed a massive 5 year deal worth more then 50 million dollars with El Paso. The team struggled and never won more then 80 games and finished last all but one season that he was with them. He did bat close to .300 with the team and twice hit over 37 homers and 118 rbi. After season 8 with his bat speed slowing he hung up his cleats at the age 39.

Stats: 752 runs, 1197 hits, 206 doubles, 292 homers, 900 rbi, .319 avg
Estimated Career Stats: 1250 runs, 2100 hits, 355 doubles, 517 homers, 1575 rbi, .325 avg.

Awards: 4 x All-Star (1-4), 3 X Silver Slugger 1st Base(1-3), 2 X MVP (2,3)

Records:
Toronto Single Season Assist Record 1st baseman (169)
2nd,5th Single Bat Avg (.347,.333)
T-1st Single HomeRun (67)
2nd,3rd Single OBP (.436,.431)
2nd Single Runs (167)
T-1st Single RBI (196)

Durham/Toledo
1st Single Bat Avg (.373) also 3rd best in ML History
3rd Single Hits (200)
5th Single Doubles (47)
1st Single Homers (51)
1st Single OBP (.465)
3rd Single Runs (136)
1st Single RBI (147)
1st Single OBPS (1.227) 2nd best ML History

El Paso
2nd Single Bat Avg (.330)
5th Single Homeruns (40)
3rd Single OBP (.402)
5th Single RBI (119)

Also has the 5th highest Career OBPS at this time in ML history at 1.025

Had incredible playoff stats as well batting .383 in 133 at bats with 22 homers and 47 rbi and posting an outstanding 1.407 OBPS.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Season 8 Hall of Fame Results

The results are in and we have our 1st two inductees into the Addicted Users Hall of Fame. Remember 75% is required to make the Hall and 30% is needed to stay on the ballot for next season (maximum 3 times).

Carl West 100%
Buddy Scalici 83%

Players returning for a 2nd Vote:None

Players returning for a 3rd Vote:
Horacio Frias 50%
Mo Munro 42%
Cesar James 33%

Players who have had 3 seasons of votes or received less then the required 30%
Lefty Appier 3rd Vote 33%
Terry Witt 3rd Vote 25%
Art Collins 3rd Vote 17%
Osvaldo Guerrero 3rd Vote 17%
P.T. Baez 2nd Vote 17%
Wayne Diaz 2nd Vote 8%
Sammy Thurman 1st Vote 17%
Bartolo Canseco 1st Vote 8%
Mike Jackson 1st Vote 8%

So Frias, Munro and James will return next season for their 3rd and final vote.
Carl West and Buddy Scalici will be inducted later this season when both players announce what teams caps they will be wearing into the Hall.