1 Trenton Thunder 52-26 – The defending NL East champ is looking strong yet again.
2 Los Angeles Bombers 52-26 – Defending WS champs are on track to make another strong showing!
3 Chicago Midway 47-31 – A solid balanced team, winning at home and on the road.
4 Scranton Schrutes 44-34 – With big Lou they can make post season noise.
5 Arizona Smokin’ Aces 45-33 – The WC seems likely for this team.
6 Fargo Elks 41-37 – The recent W9 had this team back in the hunt!
7 Philadelphia Continentals 39-39 – They had played better but have swooned a bit. If they can get hot they can challenge for a WC.
8 Florida Hurricanes 41-37 – They lead the division and should be a playoff team.
9 Vancouver Referians 37-41 – A bit more is expected of this team, Ajax Clark needs to do more.
10 Jacksonville Manatees 37-41 – Frustrating for this team to not win more home games
11 San Francisco 33-45 – The rebuild is on schedule
12 Atlanta Sky Hawks 33-45 – Ditto, another good rebuild underway
13 Tacoma 2x4’s 32-46 – The Boise of the NL, they are having a shockingly poor start.
14 Baltimore Navymen 31-47 – Mateo Martin needs some help!
15 Milwaukee BrewCrew 08 30-48 – The Robbins/Fernandez double play combo is one of the best.
16 Charleston Clubbers 29-49 – Steady ownership will help this team greatly.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
AL Power Rankings
1. Las Vegas Runnin Rebels 54-22– An outstanding start for this team, they are dominating at home.
2. Tucson Trolls 52-24- 2nd place in the division and ranked 2nd in the AL. They look strong for the WC.
3. Houston Cabalerros 47-29 – What is up with that road record? Very impressive.
4. New York Mafia 47-29 – That 16 game lead looks unbeatable.
5. Tampa Bay Primetimers 44-32 – They are battling for the division lead and if not are looking strong for the WC.
6. Syracuse Lions 42-34 – Leading the divison, this team has been to the playoff 3 of 4 years and look strong to do so again.
7. Rochester big tunas – 41-35 and right in the hunt.
8. Seattle Rainers 42-34 – Are bouncing back very after their first losing season last year.
9. Toronto BlueJays 39-37 – They are hanging tough, just 3 games out in the AL North.
10. St.Louis Red Birds 37-39 – A nice bounce back season on this rebuild, they are making
progress
11. Louisville
12. Memphis
13. Boston
14. San Juan
15. Boise – A fast fall for this team, losing DeShields exposed the pitching staff.
16. Hartford
2. Tucson Trolls 52-24- 2nd place in the division and ranked 2nd in the AL. They look strong for the WC.
3. Houston Cabalerros 47-29 – What is up with that road record? Very impressive.
4. New York Mafia 47-29 – That 16 game lead looks unbeatable.
5. Tampa Bay Primetimers 44-32 – They are battling for the division lead and if not are looking strong for the WC.
6. Syracuse Lions 42-34 – Leading the divison, this team has been to the playoff 3 of 4 years and look strong to do so again.
7. Rochester big tunas – 41-35 and right in the hunt.
8. Seattle Rainers 42-34 – Are bouncing back very after their first losing season last year.
9. Toronto BlueJays 39-37 – They are hanging tough, just 3 games out in the AL North.
10. St.Louis Red Birds 37-39 – A nice bounce back season on this rebuild, they are making
progress
11. Louisville
12. Memphis
13. Boston
14. San Juan
15. Boise – A fast fall for this team, losing DeShields exposed the pitching staff.
16. Hartford
First Half Numbers of Interest
Hitting Notes:
BA: Rich Clarke of Las Vegas, a career .313 hitter has hit at a .374 clip this year at the age of 33.
Edgardo Manuel has 66 steals while being caught just twice.
Early MVP candidates are Louis Cook (TRE) 33 HR, 94 RBI, .333 BA and Tony Andrews (LV) 27 HR, 85 RBI, .292 BA. Ricky Iorg has great power numbers but is discounted due to a .252 BA.
Damaso Lee (TB) has the longest hitting streak at 28 games.
Notable Rookies: Victor Castro (TUC) hitting .336; Victor Guillen (NY Mafia), 14 HR, 70 RBI, and .330 BA; Robert Carter (HAR) has belted 28 HR.
Pitching Notes:
Sun Sakamoto (ROC) is a workhorse, pitching 126 innings before the halfway point. His ERA is 3.00 and he is 9-3.
Lou DeShields (SWB) is doing what everyone expects of him with 12 wins and a 2.49 ERA. He leads the league in wins.
Strikeouts are led by Graham Burke (LV) 116, followed by DeShields 115 and Sakamoto at 114.
Corey Payton (LV) leads the league with 27 saves.
Gary Jenkins (LV) has an incredible 1.43 ERA this year after 88 IP and a 0.91 WHIP which leads the lague in both categories.
Notable Rookies:
Jeremy Boyd (NY Mafia) with 99 IP, 5-2, 2.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP has been stellar. Ned Lane (FAR) has 9 wins so far. Miguel Infante (TRE) has 7 wins and 82 SO. Tom Sellers (FAR) has been outstanding with his 22 saves.
BA: Rich Clarke of Las Vegas, a career .313 hitter has hit at a .374 clip this year at the age of 33.
Edgardo Manuel has 66 steals while being caught just twice.
Early MVP candidates are Louis Cook (TRE) 33 HR, 94 RBI, .333 BA and Tony Andrews (LV) 27 HR, 85 RBI, .292 BA. Ricky Iorg has great power numbers but is discounted due to a .252 BA.
Damaso Lee (TB) has the longest hitting streak at 28 games.
Notable Rookies: Victor Castro (TUC) hitting .336; Victor Guillen (NY Mafia), 14 HR, 70 RBI, and .330 BA; Robert Carter (HAR) has belted 28 HR.
Pitching Notes:
Sun Sakamoto (ROC) is a workhorse, pitching 126 innings before the halfway point. His ERA is 3.00 and he is 9-3.
Lou DeShields (SWB) is doing what everyone expects of him with 12 wins and a 2.49 ERA. He leads the league in wins.
Strikeouts are led by Graham Burke (LV) 116, followed by DeShields 115 and Sakamoto at 114.
Corey Payton (LV) leads the league with 27 saves.
Gary Jenkins (LV) has an incredible 1.43 ERA this year after 88 IP and a 0.91 WHIP which leads the lague in both categories.
Notable Rookies:
Jeremy Boyd (NY Mafia) with 99 IP, 5-2, 2.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP has been stellar. Ned Lane (FAR) has 9 wins so far. Miguel Infante (TRE) has 7 wins and 82 SO. Tom Sellers (FAR) has been outstanding with his 22 saves.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
IFA Revview and Update
So, every year these huge bonuses go out to a few select players on the International market. Let's take a look at the progress of these players as they work their way to the bigs.
Year 1
Miguel Infante, Trenton - A 28M signing is now 22 years old and last year went 11-5 with a 3.66 ERA. This guy should be getting better and better. Grade him out as an A, albeit and expensive A.
Cesar Solano, DC - 15M signing is now 25 and has career numbers of a 4.24 ERA a 10-12 record and 25 saves. For that kind of money he gets a B- grade so far.
Year 2
Victor Guillen was a 27M bonus that New York landed. He is just 21 and has numbers last year of 31 HR, 131 RBI and a .307 AVG, that is one stud hitter. A is his grade as one would expect when spending that kind of money.
Juan Guerrero was signed for 19M, he is now 21 and Chicago enjoyed a 10-4 season from him in AA last year. He will be with the big club this year.
Year 3
Fausto Aguilar went for 19M. Seattle has to be pleased with his 12 HR, 73 RBI, .344 AVG in the farm system. He will be with the big club when they break camp this year.
Yoo-Nah Xaio went for 17M,his farm club numbers of 26 HR, 99 RBI and .329 AVG are nice. He will also be in the bigs this year to start the season.
The Year 4 guys are far too new to report on.
Year 1
Miguel Infante, Trenton - A 28M signing is now 22 years old and last year went 11-5 with a 3.66 ERA. This guy should be getting better and better. Grade him out as an A, albeit and expensive A.
Cesar Solano, DC - 15M signing is now 25 and has career numbers of a 4.24 ERA a 10-12 record and 25 saves. For that kind of money he gets a B- grade so far.
Year 2
Victor Guillen was a 27M bonus that New York landed. He is just 21 and has numbers last year of 31 HR, 131 RBI and a .307 AVG, that is one stud hitter. A is his grade as one would expect when spending that kind of money.
Juan Guerrero was signed for 19M, he is now 21 and Chicago enjoyed a 10-4 season from him in AA last year. He will be with the big club this year.
Year 3
Fausto Aguilar went for 19M. Seattle has to be pleased with his 12 HR, 73 RBI, .344 AVG in the farm system. He will be with the big club when they break camp this year.
Yoo-Nah Xaio went for 17M,his farm club numbers of 26 HR, 99 RBI and .329 AVG are nice. He will also be in the bigs this year to start the season.
The Year 4 guys are far too new to report on.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
FA Signing - Lou DeShields
The big signing of Lou DeShields has taken place. $110,000,000.00 over 5 years with a player option at the end. It is not often that a pithcer like this comes along, and becomes available on the open market. At 29 years of age and the all time leader in Strikeouts, Scranton is making a bid to contend. The question that always comes up with signings like Lou comes downto health and longevity. I have insider knowledge that Boise really didn't want to lose him but lacked the budget to get as high as 10M in bonus money. He is 30 and is coming off of 245 innings pitched last year. It is pretty likely that at the end of the contract his salary will be a negative, but enjoy the ride while he is the man! Other than Del Taylor there is no other pitcher like him in this league.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tucson Trolls
The following is a team preview for the Tucson TrollsThe Tucson Trolls are coming off a tough season in which they won 84 games, yet finished 4th in the always competitive AL West. New Manager Felipe Morales is hoping a revamped pitching staff can propel the Trolls into the playoffs. Leading the offense is Silver Slugger and All-Star DH Footsie Lee, coming off a 47 HR, 132 RBI season. OF Tris Erdos is looking to build on a 37 HR rookie year while free agent acquisition and shortstop Bernard Jones is coming off an All-Star season with Memphis. The pitching staff is headlined by veteran closer Tito Tanaka and Season 3 call-up Achilles Rivera, who posted an 8-1 record after his promotion from AAA. The Trolls are counting on rookie Jamie Nixon and free agent Will Perez to improve a staff that finished last season with an abysmal 5.12 team ERA. If Tucson can solidify their pitching and continue their offensive production, they will challenge Las Vegas for the division title.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Syracuse Lions Preview
Coming off back to back playoff seasons, the Syracuse Lions are trying to sustain that high level of play going with four new young stars in the making; SP Doyle Blume, SP Steven Miller, SS Julian Costilla, and CF Alex Dong! The Lions concentration will be to improve their home record from the dismal 37-44 they had in season 3. Improvement in the home record, the infusion of young talent, to go along with stars Doc Carter, Fonzie Hamilton, and Parker Dunn should help the team keep pace with division foe Bosie Spuds. Syracuse has a nice balance of young and old talent, and the team owner is counting on that balance to bring another post season birth. The Amateur Draft this year will be exciting and an important one for the Lions future, they hold 5 picks in the first 39 selections.
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