Mexico City Draft Day Controversy

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
HARD BALL STITCHES BASEBALL LEAGUE – DRAFT DAY CONTROVERSY

"SOMEBODY CALL THE COMMISH—SENOR PERRO JUST STOLE THE SHOW!"

Location: A smoky backroom somewhere beneath the roaring Estadio del Sol, post-draft chaos unfolding…

[CAMERA ZOOMS IN on a barely-hinged folding table surrounded by enraged reporters, dramatic lighting, and a very sweaty announcer with a foam microphone in hand.]

ANNOUNCER “MEAN DANE MENDOZA”:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HOLD ON TO YOUR PELOTAS, 'CAUSE WE GOT A SCANDAL HOTTER THAN A SUMMER IN SONORA! THE MEXICO CITY LUCHADORS HAVE LEAPT FROM 10TH TO 6TH IN THE AMATEUR DRAFT—AND THE BASEBALL WORLD IS CALLING FOUL BALL!

AND AT THE CENTER OF THE STORM? THE MASKED MAVERICK HIMSELF… SENOR PERRO!!!"

[CAMERA WHIPS TO SENOR PERRO—clad in a diamond-studded Luchador mask, cape flowing in the AC draft, twirling a gold cane shaped like a baseball bat.]

SENOR PERRO (growling in a thick accent):

"Ay, papacito… You call it cheating? I call it DESTINY! I didn’t steal the 6th pick—I suplexed destiny and pinned it for the three count!"

[Crowd of press gasps—one reporter faints. Another drops his churro.]

MEAN DANE:

"NOW WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE, PERRO! Sources say league executives caught you slipping envelopes under the commissioner’s locker room door, each one smellin’ like hot sauce and corruption! You think you can just powerbomb your way up the draft board?!"

SENOR PERRO:

"You think I bribed the league? HAH! The only thing I’m guilty of is being the BADDEST BULL IN THE BARRIO! While other teams were cryin’ in their cleats, I was out there body slamming mediocrity and dropkicking doubt! Now the Luchadors got that 6th pick, and soon we’ll be dropping dingers like elbow drops from the top rope!"

[A chair flies across the room. Probably metaphorical. Maybe not.]

MEAN DANE:

"Are you saying this was all... legal?!"

SENOR PERRO (grinning beneath the mask):

"Legal? No.

LEGENDARY? Absolutely."

CUE EXPLOSTIONS AND METAL GUITAR SOLO. CUT TO BLACK

S2 Draft Lottery Results

 Amy Amanda 'Triple A' Allen - contributing reporter

Gone are the days when tanking guaranteed you a shot at the top pick. The era of the Draft Lottery has officially begun in Hardball Stitches—and if our first roll of the dice proved anything, it’s that no one’s spot is safe.

In a stunning debut, the lottery brought chaos, drama, and just a hint of poetic justice. Colorado Springs made the biggest leap of the night, vaulting up six spots to snag the No. 2 pick. Meanwhile, Nashville, once eyeing the top of the board, saw their hopes tumble—dropping five spots to land at No. 7.

The message is clear: fortune now favors the lucky, not just the losing. And with that, the draft landscape has officially changed.

Here’s how the rest of the chips fell...



Labels:

S1 Recap

Jack Torrance - Contributing Reporter

Winner Winner....Chicken Dinner 

Should be no surprise that the team with the most regular season stolen bases stole the World Series from the Texas Toast after being down 3-0. Congrats to Pimpbotlove for winning the first ever Hardball Stitches World Series title.  

Playoff Hitting Stats: .251 avg, .709 ops, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 81 R, 38 SB
Playoff Pitching Stats: 11-6, 5/7 saves, 156 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 3.52 ERA, 33 bb, 127 k. 
Outstanding Position Player: Jacob Donald (LF) - .283 avg, .930 ops, 15 H, 11 R, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 3 SB
Outstanding Pitcher: Tex Richardson (RP) - 0.00 era, .097 oav, 0.47 whip, 21 k, 3 bb, 0-0, 3/3 sv in 10 relief appearances totaling 19 innings. 

Congrats again and let's get ready for the start of Season 2! 

Major League

All-Star Weekend

The American League took an early lead and didn't look back over the National League, 5-2
All Star Game Player of Game - 1B Matt Roberts (Baltimore) drove in 3 runs
Home Run Derby Champ - Dustan Nevin (Durham) - 9 - 8 - 9
Longest HR - 522' - Rubi Veras (Syracuse)
Futures Game Player of the Game: Tarrik McLemore (Indy)

American League 

Division Titles
AL North: Syracuse Firebirds
AL East: Boston 'Act As If' Afflects
AL South: New Orleans Voodoo
AL West:  Salt Lake City Trappers
Wildcards: Texas Toast & Tacoma Armada

League Leaders
Batting
Hits: AJ Jordan (Montgomery) - 222
Average: Vin Nunez (Syracuse) - .365
Home Runs: Benito Gonzales (Montgomery) - 59
Runs: Rubi Veras (Syracuse) - 139
Runs Batted In: Benito Gonzales (Montgomery) - 152
Stolen Bases: Keith Sowders (Salt Lake City) - 63
Longest Hit Streak: Vin Nunez (Syracuse) & Vern Ashley (Arizona) - 27

Pitching
Wins: Laynce Johnson (Boston) - 22
Quality Starts: Dayan Martin (Montgomery) - 26
Saves: Armando Ceda (Durham) - 42
ERA: Hideki Lim (Tacoma) - 2.56
Strikeout: Hideki Lim (Tacoma) - 208
OAV: Rando Rincon (Salt Lake City) - .209
WHIP: Rando Rincon (Salt Lake City) - 1.07

Fielding
Plus Plays: Omar Rodriguez (Texas) - 30
CS%: Jimmy Long (Fargo) - .36%
C ERA: Dan Key (New Orleans) - 3.89

Awards
MVP: 

  1. Vin Nunez (Syracuse) - 18 votes
  2. Juan Mota (Tacoma) - 6 votes
  3. Matt Roberts (Augusta) - 5 votes (ROOKIE)
  4. Mickey Villegas (Los Angeles) - 3 vote
  5. Jim Smith (Boston) - 0 votes

Cy Young: 

  1. Rando Rincon (Salt Lake City) - 14 votes
  2. Ned Gaillard (Augusta) - 9 votes (ROOKIE)
  3. Laynce Johnson (Boston) - 5 votes
  4. Glenallen Cepicky (Boston) - 3 votes
  5. Earl Bailey (Montgomery) - 1 vote (ROOKIE)
Rookie of the Year: 
  1. Shin-Soo Ishii (Texas) - 18 votes
  2. Ned Gaillard (Augusta) - 6 votes
  3. Matt Roberts (Augusta) - 5 votes
  4. Earl Bailey (Montgomery) - 3 votes
  5. Dixon Perez (Arizona) - 0 votes

Fireman of the Year: Jose Rios (Texas)

National League

Division Titles
NL North: Trenton Thunderbolts
NL East: St Louis Archers
NL South: Charlotte Intimidators
NL West: Scottsdale Sazeracs
Wildcards: Buffalo Bomb Squad & Indianapolis Speedsters

League Leaders
Batting
Hits: Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 191
Average: Vincente DeSoto (Charlotte) - .346
Home Runs: Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 50
Runs: Len Priest (St Louis) - 154
Runs Batted In: Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 142
Stolen Bases: Len Priest (St Louis) - 107
Longest Hit Streak: Phil Wallace (Scottsdale) - 20

Pitching
Wins: Polin Aceves (Trenton) - 26
Quality Starts: Magglio Mieses (Trenton) - 29
Saves: Roger Williams (Buffalo) & Steve Knecht (Chicago) - 46
ERA: Polin Aceves (Trenton) - 1.85
Strikeout: Harry DaSilva (Buffalo) - 239
OAV: George Avery (Colorado Springs) - .192
WHIP: Polin Aceves (Trenton) - 0.95

Fielding
Plus Plays: Richie Beltran (Tucson) - 29
CS%: Dustin Casanova (Fresno) - 39%
C ERA: Sammy Kelly (Trenton) - 2.85

Awards
MVP:

  1. Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 19 votes (ROOKIE)
  2. Len Priest (St Louis) - 6 votes 
  3. Harry Feliz (San Antonio) - 5 votes
  4. Jason Bako (Trenton) - 2 vote
  5. John Lansing (Chicago) - 0 votes
Cy Young:
  1. Polis Aceves (Trenton) - 21 votes
  2. Franchy Rolison (Trenton) - 9 votes
  3. Magglio Mieses (Trenton) -  3 votes
  4. Derrek Cone (St Louis) - 1 vote
  5. Harry DaSilva (Buffalo) - 0 votes
Rookie of the Year:
  1. Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 21 votes 
  2. Lyle Merrick (Indianapolis) - 5 votes
  3. Glenallen Adams (St Louis) - 4 votes
  4. Tony Sheehan (Trenton) - 2 votes
  5. Roger Williams (Buffalo) - 0 votes
Fireman of the Year: Roger Williams (Buffalo)

Minor League

AAA: 
NL #6 Buffalo over AL #6 Fargo, 4-3.
Best Record: Los Angeles - 88-56
Worst Record: Philadelphia - 52-92

AA: 
NL #6 Scottsdale over AL #3 Texas, 4-3.
Best Record: Buffalo - 93-51
Worst Record: Helena - 42-102

A+: 
NL #3 Charlotte over AL #6 Boston, 4-2.
Best Record: Tucson - 101-43
Worst Record: Scranton - 44-100

A-: 
AL #5 Montgomery over NL #1 Tucson, 4-1.
Best Record: New Orleans - 101-43
Worst Record: St Louis - 42-102

Rookie: 
AL #2 Tacoma over NL #1 Nashville, 4-2.
Best Record: Boston - 55-21
Worst Record: Cleveland - 16-60
Labels:

Awards Log

Jack Torrance - Contributing Reporter

Award History
(* indicates Hall of Famer member) - running list of award winners

Franchise Titles

  • 1 Title
    • St Louis (S1)

World Series

S1: #2 NL St Louis v #S5 AL Texas; 4-3.

League Championships
  • 1 Championship
    • Texas (AL - S1)
    • St Louis (NL - S1)

Division Titles
  • 1 Titles
    • Trenton (S1)
    • St Louis (S1)
    • Charlotte (S1)
    • Scottsdale (S1)
    • Syracuse (S1)
    • Boston (S1)
    • New Orleans (S1)
    • Salt Lake City (S1)

Wildcards
  • 1 Wildcard
    • Buffalo (S1)
    • Indianapolis (S1)
    • Texas (S1)
    • Tacoma (S1)

Rare Games
Running list of the rare games and seasons they were accomplished in, most recent will be at the top of the list. We've included their Game Score for pitchers and ESPN Rating.

Labels: ,

Season 1 Awards Voting

As the inaugural season of Hardball Stitches draws to a close, it's time to take a look at the ballots for the end-of-season awards. The answers to future trivia questions are about to be established, so let's take a quick look at who might be able to lay claim to those. We will start with the MVP races and then move the mound before looking at the young guns. Here we go!

AL MVP

  • Vin Nunez (2B-Syracuse), 7.55 oWAR + 0.58 dWAR = 8.12 total 
  • Juan Mota (CF-Tacoma), 4.87 oWAR + 1.06 dWAR = 5.92 total
  • Matt Roberts (1B-Baltimore), 5.62 oWAR -0.96 dWAR = 4.66 total
  • Mickey Villegas (LF-Los Angeles), 6.20 oWAR -1.07 dWAR = 5.13 total
  • Jim Smith (3B-Boston), 3.79 oWAR +1.40 dWAR = 5.19 total

NL MVP

  • Liam Steinbach (1B-Fresno), 7.21 oWAR - 2.28 dWAR = 4.93 total
  • Harry Feliz (LF-San Antonio), 3.11 oWAR -0.98 dWAR = 2.13 total
  • Len Priest (1B-St. Louis), 3.17 oWAR -1.24 dWAR = 1.93 total
  • Jason Bako (1B-Trenton), 4.67 oWAR - 1.30 dWAR = 3.37 total
  • John Lansing (1B-Chicago), 2.92 oWAR - 0.14 dWAR = 2.78 total

AL Cy Young

  • Rando Rincon (SP-Salt Lake City), 5.57 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 5.57 total
  • Ned Gaillard (SP-Syracuse), 5.08 pWAR - 0.19 dWAR = 4.89 total
  • Laynce Johnson (RP-Boston), 3.80 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 3.80 total
  • Earl Bailey (SP-Montgomery), 5.18 pWAR -0.25 dWAR = 4.93 total
  • Glenallen Cepicky (SP-Boston), 6.20 pWAR -0.12 dWAR = 6.08 total

NL Cy Young 

  • Polin Aceves (SP-Trenton), 4.58 pWAR -0.12 dWAR = 4.46 total
  • Franchy Rolison (SP-Trenton), 5.50 pWAR + 0.12 dWAR = 5.63 total
  • Magglio Mieses (SP-Trenton), 4.76 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 4.76 total
  • Derrek Cone (SP-St. Louis), 3.07 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 3.07 total
  • Harry DaSilva (SP-Buffalo), 4.91 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 4.91 total

AL Rookie of the Year

  • Shin-Soo Ishii (C-Texas), 5.86 oWAR + 0.91 dWAR = 6.77 total
  • Ned Gaillard (SP-Syracuse), 5.08 pWAR - 0.19 dWAR = 4.89 total
  • Matt Roberts (SS-Baltimore), 5.62 oWAR - 0.96 dWAR = 4.66 total
  • Earl Bailey (SP-Montgomery), 5.18 pWAR - 0.25 dWAR = 4.93 total
  • Dixon Perez (1B-Arizona), 1.85 oWAR - 0.54 dWAR = 1.31 total

NL Rookie of the Year 

  • Liam Steinbach (1B-Fresno), 7.21 oWAR - 2.28 dWAR = 4.93 total
  • Lyle Merrick (RP-Indianapolis), 1.76 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 1.76 total
  • Glenallen Adams (SP-St. Louis), 0.89 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 0.89 total
  • Tony Sheehan (SP-Trenton), 2.91 pWAR -0.31 dWAR = 2.60 total
  • Roger Williams (RP-Buffalo), 0.08 pWAR + 0 dWAR = 0.08 total

    • Honorable Mentions

    • Jimmie Lee (2B-Los Angeles + Scottsdale), 0.61 oWAR - 0.94 dWAR = -0.32 total
    • Leyson Ayala (SS-Salt Lake City), -1.59 oWAR + 0.66 dWAR = -0.92 total

    Labels:

    S1 - How They Were Built - St Louis

    Jack Torrance - contributing reporter

    A baseball roster, much like a fine old hotel in the dead of winter, has a way of revealing the character of those who built it. Some teams are assembled with meticulous precision—carefully orchestrated trades, shrewd free-agent signings, and waiver-wire heists that border on grand larceny. Others? Well, they stumble through the offseason like a man lost in a hedge maze, their plans unraveling with each ill-fated contract and hasty deal. But whether by genius or madness, every roster tells a story—a tale of ambition, desperation, and the relentless pursuit of victory. So, let’s take a look at how this particular team, the St. Louis Archers came to be, piece by painstaking piece, and see if they’ve crafted a masterpiece… or something destined to collapse under its own weight.

    The team started off to the hottest start we've ever seen (so what if it's only Season 1) in Hardball Stitches history, let's see how it was done. 

    • C
      • Philip McCartin - ORIGINAL - Arbitration 2 signing of $1.5M.
      • Kenshin Choi - TRADE - with Bossman Bob (Fresno), gave up SP Shouta Tamura and SP Cy Ingram, who both received late season promotions while the Romans were fighting with the Sazeracs for the division title out West.  Choi took on Righties while McCartin took on Lefties. 
      • Greg Harmon - ORIGINAL - Started on a $328K rookie level contract
    • 1B
      • Jacob Donald - WAIVER CLAIM - Donald went through Arbitration 3 with Buffalo but was waived shortly thereafter. Nearly had a 20 2B - 20 HR - 20 SB season.
    • 2B
      • Glenn Green - ORIGINAL - Started with a 2/$12.6M contract. Likely ends the season as the #2 SB leader in Hardball Stitches and behind teammate Len Priest. 
    • SS
      • Ron House - ORIGINAL - Started with a 2/$10.4M contract
      • Grayson Ryan - FREE AGENT - Signed a 3/$17M contract this offseason - plus defender up the middle. 
    • 3B
      • Rylan Benson - ORIGINAL - Started with a 2/$10.4M contract
    • LF
      • Len Priest - ORIGINAL - Started with a 2/$9.2M contract. Solid 1-2 punch with Green, as mentioned the two lead the league in SBs. 
      • Corey Smalley - ORIGINAL - Started with a 2/$13M contract. Doesn't get many ABs but when he does he's become a .300+ hitter. 
    • CF
      • Fred Sowders - TRADE - Another deal with New Orleans, this time giving up 1B Wayne Pennington who has above average contact, power, and eye; but his splits could use a good bit of improvement. 
    • RF
      • Koji Katou - FREE AGENT - This one is well documented, he signed a max contract this off-season. $30M this season for 87 runs, 34 hr, 92 rbi, on a .299 avg....through only 98 games played. Just wait for next season. 
      • Sergei Fabregas - ORIGINAL - Started on a $328K rookie level contract

    • Starters
      • Alen Baldwin - TRADE - w/ New Orleans as first trade of the season. Gave up DH John Hearn and SP Bernie Rosado. Both players were promoted to the majors. Hearn a 2 year rookie hasn't improved this season, but his splits were already 97/94 with a 94 eye. Rosado has performed very similar to Baldwin this season.  
      • Babe Rodgers - ORIGINAL - Arbitration 1 signing of $1.3M.
      • Edgmer Wilfredo - ORIGINAL - Started with a 3/$16.8M contract
      • Derrek Cone - TRADE - with Montgomery, gave up prospect RP Sherry Merrick and SP Dolf Hillenbrand. Hillenbrand looks to be the future of the Fightins rotation. 
      • James Richardson - TRADE - with Salt Lake City. Easy add, was a salary dump for SLC. Been amazing since joining the team. 
    • Bullpen
    All-in here's a recap of the moves
    • 14 original contracts / arbitration / promotions
    • 2 free agent signings
    • 1 waiver claims
    • 8 trades

    Labels:

    S1 Smoke & Stitches - end of season

    Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter

    The dust has barely settled from Season 1, but in Hardball Stitches, there’s no such thing as downtime—only the quiet before the next storm. The air is thick with speculation, front offices playing their hands close to the vest while whispers slither through clubhouses like a late-night changeup that just won’t drop. Some teams are sharpening their knives, ready to cut dead weight. Others are already reaching for their checkbooks, desperate to turn promise into power. The trade block will heat up, the international market is expected to be another feeding frenzy, and somewhere in a dimly lit office, a GM is pouring a drink and wondering if they’re about to make the move that saves—or buries—their second season.

    Rumors don’t stay rumors for long. Eventually, every fastball meets the barrel, every secret finds the light. So light that cigar, top off your glass, and lean in. The game behind the game is about to start all over again.

    • The digital real estate vultures are circling, and Arizona baseball fans have noticed something… unsettling. Under the ever-watchful eye of homegrown bloggers, a few key names in the desert are quietly putting their houses on the market. Tucson listings now include the homes of catcher Benny Lee and ace James Henley. Meanwhile, Scottsdale’s housing market is suddenly flooded with properties linked to reliever Willie Blanco, second baseman Mark Harper, shortstop David Feldman, right fielder Phil Wallace, and starter Dillon Rupp. A coincidence? Maybe. But in this league, when the For Sale signs go up, the trade rumors aren’t far behind. Is it the front office shaking things up, or is the Arizona heat just getting a little too unbearable? Stay tuned—something’s brewing in the desert. 

    • Rajai Johnstone doesn’t just play the game—he bends it to his will. Power, discipline, precision. A swing that sends pitchers into cold sweats and front offices into bidding wars. And now, as the ink dries on another season, his legal team is already sharpening their pens, crafting the kind of fine print and opt-out clauses that only a king can demand. The numbers tell the story. Forty-nine home runs, 85 walks, just 39 strikeouts—every plate appearance a calculated execution. But it was the trade from Durham to Scottsdale that truly set the stage, a .376 average and .847 slugging percent over 53 games, like a man proving a point with every crack of the bat. Now, the market holds its breath. The max deal is coming. The only question left is which franchise is willing to pay the price—not just in dollars, but in power. Because once Johnstone signs, the balance of the league shifts. And in Hardball Stitches, shifts like that are rarely subtle.

    • Last season, the whispers were everywhere—fielding coaches across the league were living on borrowed time. Now, as we creep toward the offseason, the axe is finally set to fall. The question isn’t if nearly every team will be hiring a new fielding coach—it’s who’s left standing when the dust settles. From struggling defensive units to front offices looking for a scapegoat, the reckoning is near. Some teams will quietly part ways with their coaching staff, a handshake and a contract termination all that remains of their tenure. Others will make a spectacle of it, an execution played out in the headlines, a warning to the next man up. And then there’s the prize pool—the coaches who will have the luxury of choosing their next kingdom. Boston’s Derrek Warner and Nashville’s Jose Calvo sit atop that list, coveted by teams desperate to turn errors into outs and liabilities into gold gloves. The market is shifting. Power is being redistributed. One team’s discard is another team’s salvation. The only certainty? When the firings begin, the scramble for the best fielding minds in the game will follow. And in Hardball Stitches, hesitation is just another way to lose.

    • The numbers said Syracuse was unstoppable. The only 100+ win team in the American League, a powerhouse built to steamroll the playoffs. But numbers lie. And in just four games, Texas sent them packing, turning a season of dominance into nothing more than a footnote. Maybe it was the bats going cold. Maybe it was the weight of expectations. Or maybe—just maybe—it was that one deal that never crossed the finish line. The trade that could have tipped the scales, the missing piece that stayed right where it was. A brand-new, used washing machine, still spinning in Texas, still holding secrets in its drum. Baseball is cruel. Sometimes, the championship hinges on a single swing, a single pitch. And sometimes… it’s a broken promise, a deal undone, a whisper of what could have been.

    • Whispers have a way of turning into headlines, and this one is gaining traction fast. Word around the league is that the commissioner’s office is eyeing Fresno with more than just casual interest. Not just Rookie of the Year and NL MVP frontrunner Liam Steinbach—but the entire Romans franchise. Owner included. A routine check? Hardly. When baseball decides to start poking around, it’s never just for show. Maybe it’s Steinbach’s meteoric rise, the kind that makes statisticians double-check their math. Maybe it’s the way Fresno keeps defying expectations, as if they know something the rest of the league doesn’t. Steroid testing is being weighed, they say. Which means decisions haven’t been made—yet. But in a league built on power plays, nothing stays in limbo for long. If the rumors are true, the Romans might soon find themselves fighting something much tougher than a division race.

    • The Draft Lottery is coming, and with it, the usual promises of fairness, luck, and integrity. But in Hardball Stitches, integrity is just another chip on the table, easily cashed in when the stakes get high enough. Los Angeles, Nashville, and Cincinnati are clinging to their spots in the top three, hoping the odds don’t betray them. But then there’s San Antonio—always watching, always waiting. A well-timed favor, a whisper in the right ear… and suddenly, the draft board looks different. Would they dare? Of course they would. History has a way of repeating itself, and if there’s one thing San Antonio is good at, it’s taking what they want. Remember the Alamo? Please. The real question is—who’s going to remember this lottery when the dust settles and the deals are already done?

    • Los Angeles didn’t just limp across the finish line—they nearly tripped over it. The 55-win minimum, a number set in stone by the commissioner’s office, loomed over them like an executioner’s blade. And for a moment, it looked like they wouldn’t make it. The implications? Catastrophic. Their draft positioning, their reputation, their front office’s job security—all would have been thrown into chaos. Now, with the regular season in the rearview, the message is clear: survival isn’t enough. The GM is firmly on the hot seat, and the only way out is through the checkbook. Free agency, trades, whatever it takes to ensure they never flirt with the edge again. Expect moves, and expect them soon—because in Hardball Stitches, second chances are a luxury few can afford. 

    • No updates coming from the Mormons in Salt Lake City - their lips are sealed....still!

    • The Northsiders played it safe on draft night, taking the polished, pro-ready Bryant Lawson as the first college player off the board. But in Hardball Stitches, safety is an illusion—especially when the playoffs are just out of reach. Lawson has wasted no time making his presence known in the minors, his name creeping into conversations far beyond Chicago’s front office. So far, they haven’t put him on the market. But that hasn’t stopped other teams from circling, wondering if the Northsiders see him as their future—or the key to unlocking their present. A playoff push demands sacrifice. The right piece, the right price, and suddenly, a franchise cornerstone can become a trade chip. The question is: will Chicago take the risk, or will they hold tight and hope time is on their side? Because in this league, patience is rarely rewarded.

    • Mexico City will be looking to make a big splash next season in Free Agency if our translation of their language is correct. With their pick protected and a lot of players coming off the books and don't forget about the rising value of the Peso, the owners have given management their full support to land a big time all star. But the big question, do tariffs apply? When asked for a comment, El Senor Perro had this to say: "Creemos plenamente en la construcción interna a través del draft. Eso no va a cambiar. Pero, con nuestra primera selección general protegida, estamos entusiasmados de potencialmente sumar un agente libre de gran nombre la próxima temporada" When asked who they would target El Senor Perro had to say: "Oh, probablemente alguien como Mil Mascaras o La Parka. jajaja. We had Hardball Stitches tried looking up a La Parka but couldn't find what position he played. 

    • The Los Angeles Labradors are once again in the rumor mill, this time we hear they are holding a graphic design contest amongst their fan base to create a new team logo. A leak from inside the organization has provided what appear to be the two current front runners. #1 - #2. The writers at the blog appear to have a different opinion on what graphic design is than LA, but then again our writers have a different opinion on what winning baseball games look like too.

    Labels:

    S1 Best Players

    Jack Torrance - Contributing Reporter

    S1 Top Players

    Since we often reference a player's fantasy points on the blog, let's take a quick second to explain them. It's simple really, 1 point for every base, run batted in, run, walk, and each stolen base. A player gets minus 1 point for every strike out and minus a half point for each caught stealing. On the pitching side, we use a point for every inning pitched, plus 2 points for every strike out, plus 3 points for a win, and plus 4.5 for every save. The goal was to put points into things that are more controllable to the pitcher - how long they last in a game and how many strike outs they achieve but still wanted to award the W/L/SV categories as well. The pitchers have a lot more chances to lose points, but again tried to keep them based on things that are more directly tied to the pitcher's control, minus 0.4 for each walk or earned run, minus 0.75 for each home run given up and every walk. They also get minus 2 for every Loss and blown save. This system was tweaked from Yahoo's Fantasy Baseball settings. 

    We'll group players by position with their Fantasy Points, perhaps one year we'll add back in the stats like extra base hits (xBH), Weighted Runs Above Average (wRAA), weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), weighted runs created plus (wRC+), weighted stolen bases (wSB). For pitchers we could do Adjusted ERA (100 is league average), etc. But for now it's just the Fantasy Points. Bold names indicate Silver Slugger. Underlined names indicate Gold Glove Winners.  

    Top 20 Position Players

    1. 1B Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 689
    2. 2B Vin Nunez (Syracuse) - 681
    3. LF Rubi Veras (Syracuse) - 680
    4. 1B Len Priest (St Louis) - 658
    5. DH Benito Gonzales (Montgomery) - 637
    6. 1B Dustan Nevin (Durham) - 628
    7. 1B Matt Roberts (Baltimore) - 627
    8. LF Mickey Villegas (Los Angeles) - 620
    9. 3B Jim Smith (Boston) - 612
    10. 1B Jason Bako (Trenton) - 609
    11. 1B Rajai Johnstone (Scottsdale) - 601
    12. CF Juan Mota (Tacoma) - 588
    13. LF Edgar Nunez (Tacoma) - 581
    14. 1B Wayne Pennginton (New Orleans) - 568
    15. 3B Joe Winston(Baltimore) - 562
    16. LF Anthony Luke (Arizona) - 545
    17. CF Harry Ugueto (Durham) - 544
    18. RF Deven Bickerton (Tacoma) - 544
    19. SS Arquimedes Villanueva (Chicago) - 528
    20. LF Walt Swindell (Cleveland) - 527

    Bottom 10 Position Payers

    Requires a minimum of 300 At-Bats; this is generally full of Shortstops. 
    1. SS Terry Baxter (Fresno) - 31
    2. SS Ross Holt (Cincinnati) - 64
    3. SS Bosco Frazier (Fresno) - 86
    4. C Alan Damon (Los Angeles) - 113
    5. CF Marshall Gilkey (New York) - 118
    6. 2B Larry Keyes (Nashville) - 118
    7. 3B Lyle Grove (Tacoma) - 127
    8. LF Tony DeRosa (Colorado Springs) - 133
    9. SS Bruce LaPorta (Philadelphia) - 135
    10. LF JA Grieve (Colorado Springs) - 137

    Top 10 Catchers

    1. Shin-Soo Ishii (Texas) - 527
    2. Tyler Stull (Scottsdale) - 496
    3. Julio Rodriguez (Indianapolis) - 450
    4. Sammy Kelly (Trenton) - 438
    5. Dan Key (New Orleans) - 432
    6. Ellis Curtis (Colorado Springs) - 399
    7. Benny Lee (Tucson) - 397
    8. Darryl Sadler (Helena) - 382
    9. Will James (Tacoma) - 381
      1. Sadler was a Rule 5 pick from Tacoma)
    10. Jose Silverio (Boston) - 358

    Top 10 First Basemen

    1. Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 689
    2. Len Priest (St Louis) - 658
    3. Dustan Nevin (Durham) - 628
    4. Matt Roberts (Baltimore) - 627
    5. Jason Bako (Trenton) - 609
    6. Rajai Johnstone (Scottsdale) - 601
    7. Wayne Pennington (New Orleans) - 568
    8. Dixon Perez (Arizona) - 483
    9. Curt Dunn (Cleveland) - 452
    10. John Lansing (Chicago) - 441

    Top 10 Second Basemen

    1. Vin Nunez (Syracuse) - 681
    2. Christy Winston (Fresno) - 481
    3. Mark Harper (Scottsdale) - 460
    4. Pascual Pescado (Boston) - 454
    5. Santiago Tapies (Cleveland) - 447
    6. Tim Olsen (Fargo) - 441
    7. Beau McDade (Texas) - 439
      1. That's one of the most Texas sounding names I've heard
    8. Davey Dawkins (Charlotte) - 420
    9. Glenn Green (St Louis) - 400
    10. Skip Cooper (Mexico City) - 379

    Top 10 Shortstop

    1. SS Arquimedes Villanueva (Chicago) - 528
    2. Vern Ashley (Arizona) - 473
    3. Chris Gutierrez (Durham) - 458
    4. David Horton (Tacoma) - 403
    5. Oswaldo Candelaria (Scranton) - 372
    6. Felipe Tabata (Cleveland) - 361
    7. David Feldman (Scottsdale) - 340
    8. Tony Slowey (Fargo) - 338
    9. Douglas Altherr (Vancouver) - 328
    10. Omar Rodriguez (Texas) - 304

    Top 10 Third Basemen

    1. Jim Smith (Boston) - 612
    2. Joe Winston(Baltimore) - 562
    3. Alex Martin (Trenton) - 473
    4. Tyreace Moore (Syracuse) - 464
    5. Taijuan Fick (Scottsdale) - 446
    6. JP Cabellero (Fargo) - 436
    7. Lewis Glanville (Montgomery) - 430
    8. Alex Gonzales (Charlotte) - 421
    9. Alex Ortiz (New York) - 414
    10. Dingo Roberts (Indianapolis) - 394

    Top 10 Left Fielders

    1. Rubi Veras (Syracuse) - 680
    2. Mickey Villegas (Los Angeles) - 620
    3. Edgar Nunez (Tacoma) - 581
    4. Anthony Luke (Arizona) - 545
    5. Walt Swindell (Cleveland) - 527
    6. Edgmer Pena (New Orleans) - 515
    7. RA Trahan (Trenton) - 514
    8. Harry Feliz (San Antonio) - 491
    9. Vincete DeSoto (Charlotte) - 471
    10. Nap McAnaney (Durham) - 471

    Top 10 Center Fielders

    1. Juan Mota (Tacoma) - 588
    2. Harry Ugueto (Durham) - 544
    3. Wilfredo Melendez (Texas) - 477
    4. Eugene Dirks (Chicago) - 445
    5. Adrian Sexson (Charlotte) - 433
    6. Zephyr Daly (Scranton) - 414
    7. Bill Gonzales (New Orleans) - 408
    8. Midre Baez (Fresno) - 397
    9. Allie Walls (Mexico City) - 396
    10. Norberto Reynoso (Scottsdale) - 386

    Top 10 Right Fielders

    1. Deven Bickerton (Tacoma) - 544
    2. Luis Padilla (Boston) - 505
    3. Timothy Adams (Texas) - 495
    4. Bono Betancourt (Arizona) - 474
    5. Benji Richardson (Charlotte) - 464
    6. Koji Katou (St Louis) - 449
    7. Radley Frazier (San Antonio) - 437
    8. Timothy Larkin (Tucson) - 420
    9. Rey Cookson (Colorado Springs) - 417
    10. Phil Wallace (Scottsdale) - 394


    Top 15 Starting Pitchers

    1. Harry DaSilva (Buffalo) - 801
    2. Franchy Rolison (Trenton) - 762
    3. Glenallen Cepicky (Boston) - 752
    4. Derrek Cone (St Louis) - 755
    5. Magglio Mieses (Trenton) - 744
    6. Donte Person (Carlotte) - 695
    7. Ned Gaillard (Syracuse) - 694
    8. Marcus Carpenter (Buffalo) - 693
    9. Hideki Lim (Tacoma) - 690
    10. Cristobal Rojas (Buffalo) - 688
    11. Kiki Rodriguez (Mexico City) - 657
    12. Polin Aceves (Trenton) - 653
    13. Alen Baldwin (St Louis) - 652
    14. Dillon Rupp (Scottsdale) - 648
    15. Rando Rincon (Salt Lake City) - 631

    Top 10 Relief Pitchers
    Requires less than 5 starts

    1. Laynce Johnson (Boston) - 637.3
    2. Bono Grant (Chicago) - 550
    3. Lyle Merrick (Indianapolis) - 481
    4. Raimel Rodriguez (Fresno) - 475
    5. Braulio Sanchez (Trenton) - 461
    6. Josias Tatis (Helena) - 447
    7. Ryan McPherson (Indianapolis) - 445
    8. JJ Palmer (Syracuse) - 434
    9. Willie Blanco (Scottsdale) - 416
    10. David Gonzales (Salt Lake City) - 382

    Bottom 10 Pitchers

    Requires a minimum of 50 IP
    1. Keenyn Murray (Scranton) - 26
    2. Charlie Foster (Los Angeles) - 69
    3. Robinzon Profar (Scranon) - 70
    4. Sherry Pribanic (Vancouver) - 91
    5. Mac Griffin (Boston) - 91
    6. Michael Lawrence (Los Angeles) - 113
    7. Heinie Grissom (Arizona) - 114
    8. Melvin Ricarrdi (Arizona) - 116
    9. Welington Segui (Nashville) - 119
    10. Rube Robertson (Nashville) - 120
    Labels: ,

    S1 Record Books

    Jack Torrance - Contributing Reporter

    Record Books

    • 20 2B - 20 HR -20 SB Club
      • This is typically 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs but that's so rare in HBD that we'll change it slightly.
      • Eugene Dirks (Chicago) - 41-28-23
      • Darron Keller (Cleveland) - 41-22-21
      • Walt Swindell (Cleveland) - 50-22-22
      • Midre Baez (Fresno) - 28-24-21
      • Ildemaro Robles (Indianapolis) - 27-20-28
      • Mickey Vilegas (Los Angeles) - 60-27-30
      • Allie Walls (Mexico City) - 35-26-36
      • Harry Feliz (San Antonio) - 48-21-35
      • Taijuan Fick (Scottsdale) - 26-27-41
      • Andy Barker (Syracuse) - 25-28-22
      • Tyreace Moore (Syracuse) - 27-20-32
      • Vin Nunez (Syracuse) - 44-33-28
      • David Horton (Tacoma) - 30-26-27
      • Juan Mota (Tacoma)  -26-42-27
      • Edgar Nunez (Tacoma) - 24-39-28
      • Timothy Adams (Texas) - 36-23-23
      • Alex Martin (Trenton) - 33-27-20
    • 30 HR - 30 SB Club
      • Jim Smith (Boston) - 38-30
      • Harry Ugueto (Durham) - 34-31
      • Rubi Veras (Syracuse) - 51-31
      • Jason Bako (Trenton) - 37-42
    • 50 HR Club
      • Benito Gonzales (Montgomery) - 59
      • Dustan Nevin (Durham) - 52
      • Rubi Veras (Syracuse) - 51
      • Luis Padilla (Boston) - 51
      • Nap McAnaney (Durahm) - 50
      • Liam Steinbach (Fresno) - 50
        • Rookie
    • 20 W Club
      • Polin Aceves (Trenton) - 26
      • Laynce Johnson (Boston) - 22
      • Franchy Rolison (Trenton) - 21
      • Magglio Mieses (Trenton) - 20
      • Glenallen Cepicky (Boston) - 20
    • 200 K Club
      • Harry DaSilva (Buffalo) - 239
      • Marcus Carpenter (Buffalo) - 219
      • Franchy Rolison (Trenton) - 219
      • Derrek Cone (St Louis) - 218
      • Magglio Mieses (Trenton) - 209
      • Hideki Lim (Tacoma) - 208
      • Donte Person (Charlotte) - 206
      • Glenallen Cepicky (Boston) - 204
    • 40 SV Club
      • Roger Willaims (Buffalo) - 46
      • Steve Knecht (Chicago) - 46
      • Armando Ceda (Durahm) - 42
    • 25 Plus Plays Club
      • Omar Rodriguez (Texas) - 30
      • Richie Beltran (Tucson) - 29
      • Wilfredo Polanco (Montgomery) - 28
      • Ben Jones (Tucson) - 25
    Looking at the single season records, here is anybody who placed within the top 5 of a category. 
    • Every category saw new records - it's Year 1 Baby! Going forward we'll follow this format for new top 5 records being set.. 
    • HITTING
      • Stat - Player - Team - ## - Rank NEW RECORD
    • PITCHING
      • Stat - Player - Team - ## - Rank NEW RECORD
    • FIELDING
      • Stat - Player - Team - ## - Rank NEW RECORD
    Moving on to team records. Going forward next year, underlined and bold teams are records from this season. This year is like Oprah handing out records to everyone. 
    • Most Hitting Stats
      • Hits - 1687 - S1 New Orleans
        • Fewest: 1352 - S1 San Antonio
      • Doubles - 295 - S1 Boston
        • Fewest: 162 - S1 Cincinnati
      • Triples - 45 - S1 Arizona
        • Fewest: 12 - S1 New York
      • Home Runs - 309 - S1 Texas
        • Fewest: 136 - S1 Nashville / Cincinnati
      • Runs - 993 - S1 Boston
        • Fewest: 593 - S1 Nashville
      • RBI - 970 - S1 Boston
        • Fewest: 575 - S1 Nashville
      • BB - 686 - S1 Syracuse
        • Fewest: 421 - S1 Mexico City
      • K (least) - 981 - S1 Tacoma
      • K (most) - 1308 - S1 Helena
      • SB - 381 - S1 St Louis
        • Fewest: 18 - S1 New Orleans
      • CS (least) - 20 - S1 New Orleans
      • CS (most) - 98 - S St Louis
      • AVG - .290 - S1 New Orleans
        • Lowest: .243 - S1 Helena / Nashville / San Antonio
      • OBP - .359 - S1 New Orleans
        • Lowest: .306 - S1 Helena / Nashville
      •  SLG - .497 - S1 Texas
        • Lowest: .355 - S1 Nashville
      • OPS - .853 - S1 Texas
        • Lowest: 661 - S1 Nashville
    • Most Pitching Stats
      • Complete Games - 12 - S1 Philadelphia
      • Shutouts - 3 - S1 Helena / Syracuse / Tucson
      • Wins - 113 - S1 Trenton
        • Fewest: 56 - S1 Los Angeles
      • Saves - 59 - S1 Trenton
        • Fewest: 28 - S1 Boston / Los Angeles
      • Innings Pitched - 1474 - S1 Boston
      • Hits - 1206 - S1 St Louis
        • Highest: 1783 - S1 Durham
      • Runs - 505 - S1 Trenton
        • Highest: 1000 - S1 Durham
      • Home Runs - 145 - S1 Buffalo
        • Highest: 273 - S1 Los Angeles
      • Walks - 391 - S1 Trenton
        • Highest - 711 - S1 Nashville
      • Strikeouts - 1240 - S1 Buffalo
        • Fewest: 1007 - S1 Los Angeles
      • OAV - .224 - S1 St Louis
        • Highest: .296 - S1 Durham
      • WHIP - 1.11 - S1 Trenton
        • Highest: 1.62 - S1 Arizona / Scranton
      • ERA - 2.85 - S1 Trenton
        • Highest: 5.68 - S1 Scranton
    • Fielding Stats
      • Assists - 1845 - S1 Tucson
        • Fewest: 1455 - S1 Boston
      • Errors - 65 - S1 St Louis
        • Most: 138 - S1 Arizona
      • Double Plays: 485 - S1 New York
        • Fewest: 294 - S1 St Louis
    • Fantasy Points
      • Hitting - 4438 - S1 Boston
        • Fewest: 2553 - Nashville
      • Pitching - 3176 - S1 Trenton
        • Fewest: 1746 - Los Angeles
      • Combined - 6941 - S1 St Louis
        • Fewest: 4557 - Nashville
    Labels:

    S1 Franchise Wins

     Jack Torrance - contributing reporter

    Ah, wins—a simple little word, yet the lifeblood of every franchise from the bright lights of the big leagues to the forgotten outposts of the minors, where dreams flicker like a candle in the wind. Some organizations stack victories like firewood, methodically building a legacy that stretches across generations. Others scrape and claw, forever chasing a glory that always seems just beyond their reach. But when you step back—zoom out to see the full picture—every win, every loss, every last grinding inning tells a story. So, let’s take a long, hard look at the tally marks etched into the history of each club, from their crown jewel to the depths of their farm system, and see just who’s been building an empire… and who’s been trapped in the cold, bitter cycle of futility.

    1. Boston - 471-343
    2. Tucson - 470-344
    3. Tacoma - 462-352
    4. Scottsdale & Buffalo - 456-458
    5. Charlotte - 452-362
      1. Low A and above all finish top of their division
    6. Syracuse - 447-367
    7. Chicago - 443-371
    8. Texas - 441-373
    9. Trenton - 432-382
    10. New York - 421-393
    11. New Orleans & Cincinnati - 415-399
      1. Cincy - Low A and above all finish top of their division
    12. Nashville - 405-409
    13. Fargo - 402-412
    14. Vancouver - 401-413
    15. Mexico City - 399-415
    16. Baltimore - 397-417
    17. Salt Lake City - 392-422
    18. Cleveland - 388-426
    19. Montgomery & Philadelphia - 387-427
    20. Durham & Colorado Springs - 383-431
    21. San Antonio & Indianapolis - 382-432
    22. St Louis - 377-437
    23. Los Angeles - 373-441
    24. Helena - 358-456
    25. Fresno - 355- 459
    26. Scranton - 348-466
    27. Arizona - 344-470
    Labels:

    S1 - Final 4 Series - Playoff Implicatins

    Richard Castle - contributing reporter

    Ten Series. That's all that's left between now and the postseason, and for some teams, that means a chance to cement their legacy. For others? A chance to crash and burn spectacularly. That's all that separates teams from glory, heartbreak, or the cold, unforgiving void of elimination. Some are clinging to postseason hopes by their fingernails, while others are fighting for seeding, home-field advantage, or just the satisfaction of crushing someone else's dream.

    But not all roads to the playoffs are paved equally. Some teams have a smooth ride, coasting into October with a schedule softer than a pitcher throwing 80 mph fastballs. Others? Their path looks more like an uphill battle in a hurricane, against teams that want nothing more than to send them packing. 

    Today, we break down the final 4 series, analyzing who's got the toughest road ahead, who might sneak in with a favorable schedule, and who's about to run straight into a buzzsaw. Will the favorites hold the line, or are we about to witness some last-minute, edge-of-your-seat chaos? 

    Buckle up - it's going to be a wild finish. 

    AMERICAN LEAGUE

    • NORTH
      • Syracuse - With 34 games to play, they hold a 17 game lead on the division and should be coasting at this point not only for the division but the #1 seed in the AL. Unless their owner pushes the team to set a Wins record, I fully expect players to rest up and rotations to be adjusted. But resting players now and having a first round bye, will they hit a cold streak in the Divisional Round? 
        • @Arizon, @Salt Lake City, @Fargo, Tacoma
        • Combined record: 258-254
      • Tacoma - Looking at the Wildcard but might be an uphill battle with SLC and Syracuse games. If Syracuse is resting players, I'm a little less worried for the last series. But as it stands, they are a single game up on Boston/Baltimore for Wildcard 2 and trail New Orleans by 2 games for Wildcard 1. The difference could be when you have to go through Syracuse to make the World Series. 
        • @Salt Lake City, @Philadelphia, New York, @Syracuse
        • Combined record: 269-243
    • EAST
      • Boston - Second to last series of the year is against Baltimore, that could change EVERYTHING for both teams. Winner could take the division with the loser missing the playoffs. Right now they are tied for the division so the last 34 games will determine it all! Luckily it appears Boston has the easiest final four series of the playoff hopeful. But plenty can change in the six series before then. 
        • Vancouver, @Montgomery, @Baltimore, Cleveland
        • Combined record: 240-272
      • Baltimore - Before the Boston series even matters, Baltimore has to get through New Orleans first. LA shouldn't give them any issues and while you hope to sweep against Philly, they might surprise you late in the season too. 
        • Los Angeles, @New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia
        • Combined record: 248-264
    • SOUTH
      • Texas - Texas holds a 2 game lead over NO Voodoo and lines up similar to Boston in the comparison, with the tougher schedule; but still needs to pull out the Ws for the division crown. Loser likely takes Wildcard 1. 
        • @Cleveland, Fargo, @New Orleans, @Durham
        • Combined record: 250-262
      • New Orleans - Similar setup to Baltimore's schedule, they face off against each other right before the true division battle happens with Texas. 
        • Philadelphia, Baltimore, Texas, @Montgomery
        • Combined record: 264-248
    • WEST
      • Salt Lake City - No issues with the division, where they own a 12 game lead over Arizona; but some tough series against playoff hopefuls in Tacoma and Syracuse. They trail Texas by 2 games for the #2 seed and first round bye. Do they push the team for it in hopes to rest the players later? Though they need to be careful, as they lead Boston/Baltimore by only a game for the #3 seed. 
        • Tacoma, Syracuse, @Arizona, Vancouver
        • Combined record: 271-241
    • Current Playoff Seeding
      • 1 Syracuse
      • 4 Boston/Baltimore v 5 New Orleans
      • 3 Salt Lake City v 6 Tacoma
      • 2 Texas
    NATIONAL LEAGUE
    • NORTH
      • Trenton - Sights are set on the #1 slot, but looks guaranteed for a first round bye. The team was looking like a sure bet for the top seed but they went just 3-7 combined in the series against Fresno (x2) and Scottsdale. Thankfully the competition weakens for the two of the final three series. 
        • San Antonio, @Nashville, Chicago, Helena
        • Combined record: 236-276
      • Buffalo - Clear favorite for Wildcard 1 as they are 12 games behind Trenton even with their recent slip ups, which leans up for a Divisional round against the #1 seed. And they have a 5 game cushion on the Wildcard 1 spot. That likely creates a tougher path to the World Series. Change out SA and Nashville for Fresno and Scranton in their schedule comparison to Trenton. I fully expect them to have the wildcard secured and rest players for their first round matchup in their series against Chicago. 
        • @Fresno, @Scranton, Helena, @Chicago
        • Combined record: 238-274
      • Chicago - Might be 3rd in their division, which they trail by 19; but fighting for Wildcard 2 and trail Fresno by just 2 games. Due to their final two series, it's going to be a tough one. Their window might hinge on Trenton and Buffalo resting players to set playoff rosters, allowing the Northsiders a chance to squeak out some victories. Their first two series could not only shape the NL West but also the Wildcard 2 race. Every series will have playoff implications! So far they have the hardest path of any playoff hopeful team, having to face potential playoff teams in their final three series. 
        • @Tucscon, @Fresno, @Trenton, Buffalo
        • Combined record: 293-219
    • EAST
      • St. Louis - Fighting Trenton for the #1 slot, and what looks like the tougher schedule, though they've had more recent success than the Thunderbolts. 34 games remain and they have a commanding 24 game lead on the division. It's gravy from here. Do they rest players or go all in? How much jockeying for position happens, knowing Buffalo is almost a sure fire Wildcard 1 (#5 team). 
        • Scottsdale, @Mexico City, @Cincinnati, @Indianapolis
        • Combined record: 243-269
    • SOUTH
      • Charlotte - By far the easiest schedule in all of Hardball Stitches, with three of the easiest teams. With a small lead on the division, 5 games, it wouldn't take much to secure while being able to adjust the rotation for the First Round. Though knowing Buffalo is Wildcard 1, a few wins with the NL West having tough schedules - they could take over the #3 slot and match up with Wildcard 2 instead. 
        • Scranton, Cincinnati, Nashville, @Mexico City
        • Combined record: 193-319
      • San Antonio - Will they be able to pick up the 5 games on the current division champ, Charlotte or 4 games on the current Wildcard 2 Fresno team? The schedule likely helps but that's still six series away, and Trenton isn't going to be an easy one either. Definitely feels like an uphill better and considering the schedule of Charlotte I think their better chance is the Wildcard. 
        • @Trenton, @Tucson, @Mexico City, Nashville
        • Combined record: 257-55
    • WEST
      • Scottsdale - Holds a 5 games lead on the division. For any other team, 4 road games to end the season would be nerve wrecking but the team has played better on the road than at home this season. The St Louis matchup could be a look ahead to a possible playoff matchup, and ending the season with Fresno means any 3 game lead could vanish like a fart in the wind. Keep an eye on the West. 
        • @St. Louis, @Indianapolis, @Colorado Springs, @Fresno
        • Combined record: 273-239
      • Fresno - Likely have the hardest schedule of the three NL West teams, but they hold a 2 game lead on Wildcard 2 and have an easier schedule than Chicago. That final series against Scottsdale is looking pretty HUGE!
        • Buffalo, Chicago, @Tucson, Scottsdale
        • Combined record: 279-233
      • Tucson - They have the easiest schedule of the NL West teams, considering Fresno plays Scottsdale in the final series of the year, I could see a situation where the two teams beat up on each other enough that Tucson sweeps Colorado Springs and claims the division. But will that be enough to make up the current 10 games they are behind the division or 5 games they are behind the Wildcard? Might be too little too late for them to catch up. 
        • Chicago, San Antonio, Fresno, Colorado Springs
        • Combined record: 253-259
      • Current Playoff Seeding
        • 1 St Louis
        • 4 Charlotte v 5 Buffalo
        • 3 Scottsdale v 6 Fresno
        • 2 Trenton
          • Redeem time after falling to those two teams in recent series?
    PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
    • AMERICAN LEAGUE
      • First round
        • #5 New Orleans over #4 Boston
        • #3 Salt Lake City over #6 Tacoma
      • Division Series
        • #1 Syracuse over #5 New Orleans
        • #2 Texas over #3 Salt Lake City
      • League Championship
        • #1 Syracuse over #2 Texas
    • NATIONAL LEAGUE
      • First Round
        • #5 Buffalo over #4 Charlotte
        • #3 Scottsdale over #6 Fresno (biased much? yeah)
      • Division Series
        • #1 St Louis over #5 Buffalo
        • #3 Scottsdale over #2 Trenton
      • League Championship
        • #1 St Louis over #3 Scottsdale
    • WORLD SERIES
      • AL #1 Syracuse over NL #1 St Louis in an exciting 7 game series. 

    Labels: ,

    S1 Rule 4 Draft By The Numbers

     Amy Amanda 'Triple A' Allen - contributing reporter

    EDITOR NOTE - For those of you that were in Cobbfather with me, I'm doing the draft recaps a little different. Instead of giving away free scouting with projections or comps, I'm just going to cover a recap of the draft with some facts. A bit more boring I know, apologize. I still plan to run the On The Clock series that looks back at drafts from 10 seasons prior to see how teams did and who they should have selected in a perfect world. 

    The dust has settled, the picks are in, and our first Rule 4 Draft is officially in the books. While the debate over who should have gone where will rage on, let's take a step back and focus on what we do know - cold, hard facts. 
    • 831 players drafted
      • 519 player signed with their team
        • 120 High School players
          • First 3 players drafted were from High School.
        • 399 College
          • 201 Junior College players
          • 198 College players
      • 30 players included a spring invite
      • 1 player included an ML deal. 
      • 2 top 16 picks didn't sign - both will receive Type D picks we assume
          • Type D picks are not part of the lottery.
        • #5 3B Carlos Mercado (Baltimore)
          • Becomes pick #6. 
        • #7 SS Dion Wihelmsen (Indianapolis)
          • Becomes pick #9
      • 312 did not sign
        • 82 High School players
        • 230 College players
          • 114 Junior College players
          • 116 College players
      • First Round (Including Comp = 63 picks)
        • 27 of 29 HS signed
        • 31 of 34 College signed
        • Total bonuses: $106.7M
      • 7 players became Diamonds In The Rough
    • Position Breakdown of those signed
      • P
        • 250 signed of 392 drafted
          • 90 high school, 302 college
        • Highest bonus: $3.8M - Timothy Lewis (Arizona) - #3 pick
      • C
        • 43 signed of 65 drafted 
          • 16 high school, 49 college
        • Highest bonus: 4 players w/ $550k all in 2nd round
      • 1B
        • 15 signed of 28 drafted
          • 9 high school, 19 college
        • Highest bonus: $2.1M - Billy Brown $2.1M (Nashville) - #587 pick
      • 2B
        • 36 signed of 54 drafted
          • 13 high school, 41 college
        • Highest bonus: Marshall Hayes - $5.4M (Durham) - #13
      • SS
        • 49 signed of 68 drafted
          • 22 high school, 46 college
        • Highest bonus: Peter Burns - $6.4M (Helena) - #1 pick
      • 3B
        • 30 signed of 53 drafted
          • 9 high school, 44 college
        • Highest bonus: Esmailyn Rodriguez - $1.1M (Tacoma) - #32 pick
      • LF
        • 25 signed of 44 drafted
          • 11 high school, 33 college
        • Highest bonus: Trent Brocail - $2.5M (Philadelphia) - #17 pick
      • CF
        • 45 signed of 76 drafted
          • 15 high school, 61 college
        • Highest bonus: Domingo Vega - $2.2M (Tucson) - #20 pick
      • RF
        • 26 signed of 51 drafted
          • 17 high school, 34 college
        • Highest bonus: Antone Pacheco - $8.9M (New York)
    • Top 4 bonus money
    • Richest none 1st Round Pick - $2.6M - #287 pick (8th round) (Tacoma)
    • First Position Player Drafted - #1 pick - SS Peter Burns (Helena)
    • First Pitcher Drafted - #3 pick - SP Timothy Lewis (Arizona)
    • Mr Irrelevant who also signed - #831 pick - JD West (Tacoma)
      • But sadly is no longer is employed
    • How did teams draft in the early rounds
      • High Schools
        • Boston 
        • Charlotte
        • Cincinnati
        • Fargo 
        • Indianapolis 
        • Mexico City  
        • Scottsdale 
      • Mix
        • Arizona
        • Baltimore 
        • Colorado Springs
        • Durham
        • Los Angeles  
        • Montgomery 
        • Nashville 
        • New York 
        • Philadelphia 
        • St Louis
        • Tacoma
        • Trenton 
        • Tucson 
        • Vancouver 
      • College
        • Chicago
        • Buffalo
        • Cleveland 
        • Fresno 
        • Helena 
        • New Orleans 
        • Salt Lake City 
        • San Antonio 
        • Scranton 
        • Syracuse
        • Texas 
      • For those curious here's how that relates to the reverse waiver order. Obviously with our draft lottery things can (and will likely) change. 
        1. Cincinnati - HS
        2. Scranton - College
        3. Nashville - Mix
        4. Los Angeles - Mix
        5. New York - Mix
        6. Colorado Springs - Mix
        7. Cleveland - College
        8. Vancouver - Mix
        9. Fargo - HS
        10. Helena - College
        11. Philadelphia - Mix
        12. Arizona - Mix
        13. Mexico City - HS
        14. Montgomery - Mix
        15. San Antonio - College
        16. Indianapolis - HS
          • Will be interesting to see how this one plays out after the lottery and which kind of prospects might slip in the draft. Or if these preferred prospect types even holds true for next season. 
    Labels:

    S1 Free Agent look back

    Jessica Fletcher - contributing reporter

    Greetings, dear readers! As the season continues to unfold and the race for the pennant heats up, I find myself reflecting on the flurry of the free-agent signings that took place earlier this year. Much like the twists in a well-spun mystery, some acquisitions have proven to be brilliant masterstrokes, while others have left fans questioning the motives behind them. Were these front-office decisions strokes of genius, or have a few teams been led astray by red herrings? Join me as we sift through the evidence, analyze the performances, and determine which signings have paid off - and which may have destined for the cold case files of Hardball Stitches history. 

    • Arizona Canyon Kings
      • Melvin Ricarrdi - 2/$3.4M - Not a good start, the WHIP and ERA are horrendous for the set up man who has appeared in 1/3 of the CKs games. 
      • Kazuo Shibata - 1/$1.7M - See Melvin with a worse WHIP but better ERA. 
      • Hal Finley - 1/$1.15M - Holding his own defensively in CF but on the offensive front, he's well...offensive to hitting coaches everywhere. Only average slightly above his weight, with only a 60% success rate at stealing bases and limited power. 
    • Baltimore IronBirds
      • Sparky Perez - 2/$4.0M - His WHIP is right there around Arizona's two pitchers, but the ERA is slightly better. He's also a .500 starting pitcher at the time of this review. For under $2M I'm calling this a win for a team that filled gaps elsewhere. .
    • Boston "Ace As If" Afflects
      • Jose Silverio - 3/$4M - His glove plays at 1B/COF but for some reason he's behind the plate even with that sub pitch calling ability. Sorry Afflects fans, Silverio is signed up for another 2 years. Similar to Finley, he's barely hitting above his weight but he's bringing some power and will finish the season above 25 HR without a doubt. 
      • Glenallen Cepickky - 5/$37.5M - He's been about league average in WHIP and ERA, has a winning record through 25 starts and doesn't give up many free bases. Not sure about the 5 years but it's a solid signing for Boston given the lack of pitching avaialble. 
      • John DeRosa - 1/$86k - Be thankful it's only a 1 year deal, that WHIP is above 2.00 and the ERA well above 10.00 - though he's only made 3 appearances. Guess there's not much to mop up in Boston these days. 
    • Buffalo Bomb Squad
      • Clarence Byrne - 1/$5.1M - Sometimes I have to remind myself that the league average is 1.40 WHIP with a 4.50 ERA. That said, Clarence hasn't been too far below average and filled a bullpen need for the Bomb Squad. At least he's hasn't blown up too much this season. 
    • Charlotte Intimidators
      • Erv Bermudez - 3/$13.2M - Solid add as he's been roughly league average for the Intimidators. He doesn't give up many homers and strikes out a decent amount of bats. 
      • Moises Arruebarrena - 2/$9.6M - He isn't just stealing money - he's got a higher WHIP than a bank robber. I'm curious how many of Bermudez's games he's blown late in the game. 
      • Santiago Merced - 2/$7.2M - At least he's been better than Arruebarrena, but that's not saying much. 
      • Bob Kelly - 1/$2.6M - of course the cheap short contract is the player who works out. Kelly has a 1.01 WHIP and 2.60 ERA has a SuB through 27 games. 
      • Dee Washington - League Min - He was released by Helena two days before the above guys signed, but Charlotte snatched him up - though the numbers still haven't been great. 
    • Chicago Northsiders 
      • Sandy Caruso - 2/$9.2M - A very respectable 1.30 WHIP, 4.24 ERA out of the pen for the Nortsiders, pitching in 43 games so far and 74 innings. He limits home runs and walks, with a K per inning pitched. 
      • Ehire Arruebarrena - 1/$795k - Serving as a backup and hitting well for the small sample size. 
    • Cincinnati Redlegs
      • Marty Ruth - 1/$445k & Junior Ryu - 1/$360k - These guys are very similar, 1.60 WHIP, 5.50 ERA. Both strike out a batter roughly ever inning pitched but also give up a lot of hits and walks while limiting home runs. If the goal is to save money to spend elsewhere, mission accomplished. 
    • Cleveland Guardians 
      • Paul Fukudome - 5/$24.5M w/ mutual - Just 25 years old so age shouldn't be a problem but the control is another thing. Better control and he would have gotten A LOT more money this off season. 1.58 WHIP, 5.13 ERA in 20 starts. 
      • Curt Dunn - 5/$30M w/ mutual - a plus RF defender, hitting near .280. Not great on the base paths but continues to steal and hits in the 2 hole. 
      • Wes Adams - 5/$25M w/ mutual - serving as a LRB but one of the more productive members of the pitching staff with a 1.38 WHIP, 4.07 ERA. 
      • Kevin Bulger - 5/$21M - Better pitch calling catcher than many have behind the plate, hitting .245+ with double digits HR, though he also has more K than Hits. 
      • Marvin Craddock - 3/$3.3M w/ mutual - A roster filler for $1.1M isn't awful even if he has a 1.67 WHIP and 5.00 ERA. Though wait another day or two and he probably would have signed a 1 year deal for until $800k. 
      • Trent Cressend - 3/$8.2M w/ mutual - You'd think his mutual option would almost be guaranteed to be declined with that 2.12 WHIP and 7.62 ERA but...okay yeah, it will be declined unless he goes for a sub 1.0 whip and sub 3.50 era next year. 
      • Javier Nieves - 5/$77M w/ mutual - Even with his best pitch being a 70 grade, I expected better numbers from him through 20 starts - 1.37 WHIP, 4.44 ERA. 
      • Edward Westbrook - 2/$4.8M - It's Season 1 Baby seems the appropriate comment here. 1.79 WHIP, 6.75 ERA as a SuB. On the bright side has a K per inning pitched.
    • Colorado Springs Ranchers
      • Dennis Chang - 1/$3.2M - One of the best things about this guy is his 1 year contract. He'll be forget about next year and his 1.60+ WHIP / 6.60+ ERA
      • Santos Beltran - 2/$9.6M - Gotta regret this one, 1.83 WHIP, 6.67 ERA through 25 starts with a 3-9 record. 
      • Ronnier Gilliam - 1/$480k - One of the servicable pitchers on the staff with a 1.47 WHIP, 4.35 ERA but like some older men he has an issue lasting an entire inning. 
      • Roger Cowart - 1/$375k - You get what you pay for? 2.08 WHIP, 5.91 ERA through 45 innings out of the bullpen. Every inning he pitches you get 1 K, 1 BB, and 1 Hit on average. 
      • Tony DeRosa - 1/$820k - signed late to save some money but not hitting well weighing in at 200 lbs and hitting below .215 with almost as many K as he has Hits + Runs. 
    • Durham Corgis
      • Charlie Miller - 1/$4M - Roster filler because arms were limited this season. 1.60+ WHIP, 6.00 ERA as a back of the rotation arm. 
      • Armando Ceda - 5/$63M - Has successfully closed out 33 of 40 games this season with a 1.35 WHIP and 4.14 ERA. Thankfully his contract drops for seasons 3, 4, & 5 but still remains above $10M. That's a lot for a closer with control issues. 
      • Shae Grossman - 5/$79.9M - Similar to Ceda's contract it drops as the seasons go on. But at nearly $16M per season, you'd expect better than an 8-10 record through 25 starts. I think next season he'll hit a groove and really turns this out for the Corgis. 
    • Fargo Mud Dogs
      • Jim Rhodes - 1/$365k - Hard to argue with the cost but that 7.00+ ERA has to hurt deep in the Mud but he's only pitched in barely 31 innings so this season so he really hasn't hurt the team much if you think about it. 
    • Fresno Romans 
      • None - Quite a bit was filled from within. Seeing them fight for the division title shows they were set up quite well entering the season. 
    • Helena Highlanders
      • Steve Garneau - 1/$2.8M - Hasn't logged many innings but they've been productive as the rest of the freshly inked pitchers have. 
      • Dylan Wagner - 2/$9.2M - Solid league average production on a good cost. 1.35 WHIP, 4.30 ERA. 
      • Clayton Ryal - 2/$5.8M - Not sure how the guy continues to do it but this contract is fantastic for the 1.22 WIP and 3.73 ERA he's produced over 25 starts. Might be the best value contract for this Free Agency period. 
      • Earl Brinkley - 4/$26.6M - Middle of the rotation arm producing about league average results on a pretty decent $6.7M per contract. I'll call that a win for the Highlanders.
      • Wil Little - 3/$14.5M - Similar to Brinkley he's been about league average at the back of the rotation. If the team would have spent a little on bats, they likely would be in a better spot on the season. 
    • Indianapolis Speedsters
      • None - filled their roster in other moves
    • Los Angeles Labradors 
      • Danny Beverlin - 1/$1.6M - The team started red hot, shown by their initial #9 Power Ranking but the teams has slide all the way down to #27 in the recent updates. As the only signing this offseason, this was definitely isn't helping the cause - near 2.00 WHIP and a 7.00+ ERA over 55 innings in 57 games. 
    • Mexico City Luchadors
      • Xander Aceves - 2/111.2M pesos w/ mutual - another SuB putting up decently productive numbers. 
      • Ernie Borchard - 2/119.2M pesos w/ mutual - can't imagine this option gets picked up. The guy weighs 183 and is hitting .200 on the season. Sure the team can find another player for LF - one of the easier positions to fill. 
      • Leon McLaughlin - 3/357.5M pesos w/ mutual - Solid add on a pretty decent contract, but he's already showing some wear and tear, with that control dropping 4 points. That mutual option is no longer a sure thing. By the end of it he might be a 100% flyball pitcher. 
      • Alex Nunez - 2/111.2M pesos - Part time bench filler = cerveza server to the starters. 
      • Johnny Sauer - 1/19.9M pesos - SuB whose been league average and has even saved 7 of 11 games. 
    • Montgomery Fightins 
      • Ignacio Arendao - 2/$750k - one of the cheapest contracts you'll find given out this season, but you get what you pay for. Or don't get what you pay for in this case, he's only managed 16 innings so far this season. 
      • Paul Luetge - 2/$2.4M - Everybody paid for pitching this year, pitching is awful in Year 1. $1.2M is a lot for a guy whose thrown 158 pitches in 10 innings of work this season. 
    • Nashville Hot
      • Brandon Holmes - 1/$685k - Looking at league average outside of his record, 5-10.
      • Lloyd Lewis - 1/$845k - surprisingly productive for a team having a worst season ever.
      • Chaz Kendrick - 1/$425k - 1.49 WHIP, 5.22 ERA - in any other season I'd say demote him back to the minors, but Season 1? Keep it in rotation!
      • Ronnie Aldridge - 1/$815k - spared no expense this season on their FA signings, but overall they weren't decent. 
    • New Orleans Voodoo 
      • Anthony Crow - 3/$24M w/ team - The injury hurt a bit this season but he recovered a small amount; still a very usable starter for the team. 
      • Kiki Ozuna - 4/$58M w/ mutual - Great add for the Voodoo and one of the reasons the team is in the position they are. 
      • Nick Sefcik - 4/$16.4M w/ mutual - good costs for a reliever and great production out of the 28 yr old. 
      • Gerald Simmons - 2/$5M w/ team - in hopes he repeats his .325+ avg performance this season, his option should be excepted. 
    • New York Pizza Rats
      • Larry Wright - 5/$32M w/ mutual and no trade - traded to Syracuse. This isn't a trade review post, but as it stands now - NY lost this trade. 
      • Angel Flande - 1/$780k - The WHIP is nice (never thought I'd type those words together before) but the ERA hurts as he's near 5.75. 
      • Bob Woodward - 2/$7M - Currently at 12 HR, 17 SB on a .252 average so I guess he's getting the job done for a rebuilding team. 
      • Sandy Pedroia - 1/$3.1M - solid add, hitting above .300 with 16 HR.
      • Howie Coleman - 1/$2.6M - Solid, he's looking to finish the season with 20 HR and a .275-.280 average. 
      • Francisco Sardinas - 1/$1.5M - Belongs in the minors. 
      • Ross Arnold - 1/$2.6M - Fills a great season 1 hole without damaging the team too much. 
      • Yamid Rosado - Signed for league minimum but spent all of 7 mins on the team before being released. Are we sure this owner isn't a Sewer Rat himself? 
    • Philadelphia Jawns
      • Marco Priddy - 1/$750k - I know it's only 3/4 million but ouch! 1.79 WHIP, 7.36 ERA over 33 innings in 41 games. 
      • Jim Schofield - 1/$860k - doesn't offer a ton at the plate  and not really a plus defender either. Oh and he offers next to nothing on the mound too. 
      • Wei-Chung Ming - 1/$725k - only has 188 ABs this season but hitting above .285 when he does. 
    • Salt Lake City Trappers
      • Tayron York - 3/$15M - Is this a SLC Trapper or Game of Thrones character? Slightly better than league average and has closed out 12 or 13 games. Solid piece to the Trappers bullpen. 
      • Yoervis Salas - 2/$4M - Had 12 HR and 10 SB on a .240 average through 44 games but now on the shelf since with a hamstring tear that sucked that speed right out of him. 
      • Louie Vizquel - 5/$70M - Big add for the Trappers and even though he's 9-10 through 24 games, that 1.05 WHIP and 3.66 ERA are top notch in the league. Solid move with the $10M bonus this year to save on costs over the next 4. 
    • San Antonio Yo-Yo Bros Yo
      • Don Nishioka - 1/$1M - The team was looking like a contender up until the most recent power rankings. This starter has been slightly sub average, but he's a back of the rotation type that rests your frontline starters and likely is on the playoff roster just to keep the seat warm. 
    • Scottsdale Sazeracs 
      • Nate Gabriel - 2/$4.8M - Just a SuB but his numbers have been great. You have to question what happens if he's moved to a SuA role, does he drop off or continue the success? 1.10 WHIP, 2.82 ERA.
    • Scranton Paper Weights
        • *indicated signed by original owner - Jordan
      • *Delino Fernandez - 1/$1.8M - somehow found himself a starting gig. 
      • *Alex Reinheimer - 1/$4.4M - You'd think he'd be getting a few more ABs at this cost, but only 183 of them with little to show for production. 
    • St. Louis Archers 
      • Grayson Ryan - 3/$17 w/ mutual - at the plate the numbers aren't great, but he's doing more than holding his own at Shortstop compared to many other at the same position in the majors. 
      • Koji Katou - 5/$110 w/ player & no trade - Also known as a Super Max contract, he was chased by many but has the production been there? The time on the DL surely didn't help but for now through 57 games (missed 64 games) he has 22 HR with 10 SB on a .275 average. 
    • Syracuse Firebirds 
      • None - Let that soak in for a minute. Not a single FA add and the team is one of the top in the majors right now. Very similar team to Fresno in terms of quality at start of season. 
    • Tacoma Armada
      • Bernie Julio - 1/$495k - Considering the cost and quality of pitching these days, this is a solid add. 1.57 WHIP / 4.28 ERA through 20 starts. 
      • Dillon Rivera - 1/$327k - This one brings an aroma nobody can deny. Moving on. 
      • Colt Fiore - 1/$505k - Is this one worse? Let's ignore but not forget these numbers are in a pitcher's park too. 
      • York Baker - 1/$327k - league minimum contract warrants minimum production. In 60 innings he has a 1.80+ WHIP and a 6.35+ ERA.
    • Texas Toast
      • Sawyer Parker - 3/$21M w/ mutual - The only add this offseason for the playoff hopeful team though he's back of the rotation and might not see any innings come playoff time. 
    • Trenton Thunderbolts
      • Chick Wood - 2/$8.9M - Doesn't offer much power, speed or high average but he's serviceable in a Year 1. 
      • Malcom Colin - 4/$17.1M w/ mutual - These are the bullpen pieces that builds championships. Not too pricey and tons of production. 
      • Alex Martin - 5/$57.5M w/ mutual & no trade - Don't imagine this guy moving anywhere, he's got 21 HR and 17 SB on a .286 AVG. I'll take it and even better than he's a plus defender at 3B. 
      • Willie Brock - 1/$865k - The plate performance is awful, and while he's not a plus defender he's not a bad one either. 
      • Jesus Alvarez - 2/$5.2M w/ mutual - A near .300 average with 10+ HR. Smart spending for one of the best teams in baseball. 
    • Tucson Road Runners
      • Louie Gonzalez - 4/$20M - League average production this season, he's 6-9 with 6/10 saves. 
      • Victor Holt - 1/$5M - Solid add, surprised he wasn't moved at the deadline since it's an expiring contract. Perhaps people think the numbers aren't true and he's due for a decline upon changing teams. 
      • Rafael Ruiz - 2/$9.8M - Was traded and is currently on the DL for Helena. Great add for speed on the basepaths. 
      • Gaby McKenry - 1/$5M - Limited production but it's just a one year contract. No harm done. 
    • Vancouver Blue Heron
      • Darren Berge - 1/Monopoly money - Similar to a bunch of other similar bullpen pieces signed this offseason. OUCH. 
      • Richard Woo - 5/Monopoly money - The real signing from Vancouver this season and he's been more than productive. Too bad he's wasting away in a wasted land, playing for people drunk on maple syrup. 
      • Phil Wallace - 2/Monopoly money - Traded to back to the States to play in Scottsdale. You can't imagine the letters the team owner received from his family thanking for getting him out of that third world country and back home where he belongs. 
        • Wallace was flipped with RP Jacque Miyakazi for prospects. 
      • Dustan LaMarre - 2/Monopoly money - He's pitched in A+, AAA, and currently in the majors. Not great results but could be worse like Woo. 
      • Robinson Wigginton - 2/Monopoly money - Above league average numbers paired with that 3-10 record. 
      • Jose Moreno - 1/Monopoly money - He's really a Mountie disguised as a ball player. 
      • Mark Ogawa - 1/Monopoly money - On a one year contract I'll take the .285+ average with 8 HR, 11 SB - though the 7 CS prove he really shouldn't be running much. 
    All these signings has me interested in what happen next season. Season 2 motto might just be: "No Idea: Let's Ride"

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