1993 @ The Break

[Clay]

Maybe a SIM late....

Thoughts?

Feelings?

Predictions?

[BradZ]

Mel Woodbury finally starts to show his age . . . . .and wins the triple crown.

[Lintyfresh85]

I don't like this thread title.

I think it's mocking Lim.

[Matt]

Probably the most disappointed I've been in my BLB team. I know there is a lot of talent out there but I think we have a darn good pitching staff and the hitters to win games. Being -8 at the break without any major injuries is just dreadful.

Either a.) we play +8 in the 2nd half and run away with the Porter, or b.) we continue to play at a horrible level and don't even sniff the playoffs. If it's B I guess I'll just chalk it up to one of those OOTP years.

CL Bayer - 4 losses ties last year, 3.21 ERA. Continues his every other year "I'm dominant" routine.

SP Gonzales - 5-3, 3.47 ERA. Saved himself by going 3-0 in his last 4 starts.

SP Castre - 3-7, 4.50 ERA. Sigh.

MR Peterson - 2-2, 4.79 ERA. Last year had a 2.77 ERA.

CF Rojas - .248/.302/.373. Last year's ROY candidate is hitting 50 points lower in every category.

We are Top 5 in every pitching and hitting category, and Top 3 in most, but just find a way to lose games, including 5-9 in 1 run games.

In other news we have purchased a new tape and sound system for the locker room. We are hoping some of the songs from it inspire the troops. It was released prior to Spring Training and a lot of guys have given it favorable reviews. It's called "The Chronic" by Dr. Dre.

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_qkP8SvHvaU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>

[Pat]

Maybe a SIM late....

Thoughts?

Feelings?

Predictions?

Washington is 44-40 at the break. Going into the year, I expected to be a .500 club. Shavermetrics and my owner however, expected Washington to be one of the leagues very best teams. After a very slow start, the Bats are right about where I thought we'd be. I don't think my team has it in them to make a serious run at the WC but at the same time, I don't expect to be a major seller at the deadline.

Playoff teams: Pawtucket, Mississippi, Indy, Maine (WC) / Virginia, Los Alamos, Batavia, Baltimore (WC)

Worst records: Hyundai, Carolina, California, Dallas, Philly

[Delandis]

Sitting at 44-40 and 1/2 game out of 1st Place in the Porter isn't where I'd thought we'd be, but I'll take it. We had fallen back as far as 9 games early and being in striking distance even after having a such a terrible April is a blessing.

Three things really surprised me this year.

1. Overall, our pitching has been much pretty lights out. The play of O'Moore and Grady has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. Also our bullpen has played relatively well, with a few bumps here and there.

2. Our hitting at home has been questionable at best. We are hitting just as well away from home, which has never happened before in my tenure as GM. I'm hoping that it was just a slow start to the year, but I'm not counting on it. Ivan Garcia is playing really well this year and I'm happy for him. Luckily I didn't trade him last year, as I had planned. Wallace is having a pretty down year so far (for him) and Castor hasn't really been the run producer he can be.

3. The play of the Bock division. I was sure that they were at least one more year away from becoming a force again, but I was wrong. I really like the play of that kid Hudson in Davenport. He'd look good in a Bulldog uni....



I'm not sure if we are going to be able to take the lead from Batavia since they have pretty much dominated where it really counts, in the division. Windy City has been hanging on to the wildcard on the strength of their great pitching and quite frankly, I can only hope that it carries them only so far.

The worst part about it is that even if we do win the wildcard, we'd have to face Virginia in the first round. After last year's drubbing, not looking forward to that again.

[umd]

I'm going to do my best to keep Hartford in contention with Pawtucket and Maine (I wouldn't count out Z unless he's buried in the desert out here) without compromising the future in terms of prospects (of which we have a few) and salary space (of which I am out of for this season) and hope for the best.

It's somewhat interesting to look after every sim to see if the wheels have come completely off yet. They certainly are looking pretty shakey.

I think I've done a pretty decent job of putting a better product on the field since 1990. Yes, we finished second to last just last year, but I think that team was better than their record.

While I would be a little disappointed if my FA rentals (Washington, Canell) and my trade rentals (Buzzell, Cahill) don't get it done, I'd probably make those moves again to take a shot at a playoff birth. Just win baby, right?

I expected the Ale to be tough, and I may wind up a player or two short of making a real race of it in the end.

I'm greatly anticipating the return of Godron by the end of the summer and it looks like Chuck Durham is on the verge of being a superstar. I wonder what his numbers would look like in a better line-up where he didn't have to lead off.

[Spectre]

I'm overall happy with my team. Missing out on the first round the last couple of years has hurt me as my farm system is lacking. It's going to take a while to get my farm system back up to par though.

At the big league level, I knew my pen would be good and it has lived up to expectations. I have the best 8th and 9th inning combo in the game in my opinion with Lozano and Reyes. Don Leonard has not been his usual self and I expect him to have a great 2nd half. McEvoy continues to hum along. Juan Jose Gonzalez was thrust into the rotation due to the awful performance of Deron Ryan and has pitched admirably but I don't know how long he'll last in that role before tiring out.

As far as offense, I don't think this team is living up to its potential. Joe Rojas and Curt Dodson are playing well below their career levels. Calderon is also struggling. I also have a giant void in left field that needs improvement.

[Clay]

VIEW FROM THE TROPHY CASE....

- Woodbury is proving that whole "contract year" theory...

- I feel like Gus Jenkins' snub from New Brew consideration has all but been forgotten with the ACE like season he is having. Love this kid.

- Happy to see some teams that have been in "rebuild" (or build in some cases) are starting to see the fruits of their labor. Nice to see some new names in the driver's seat.

- We have an interesting 2nd half coming. I feel like the team I have right now is going to look DRASTICALLY different from the team I start the playoffs with. I feel like I have to make some big changes before I get so cap-strung that I have to play with a 20 man team... OK not really... but... I have a lot of young talent that is forcing me to push some Vets towards the block. However, since there is a 23 team "no trade clause" imposed on me... haven't figured out yet how to pull it off.

[funclown]

Despite the terrible start and the "D-day like" casualty list, somehow we ended up exactly where I expected.

What made us smile :

Carmen = Ok did expect another good year, but for a time he really carried us early on. Is 50hrs possible????

P Don Richmond- really was the intention of the team to give him a full season at AAA, then 40 man roster come Sept. Just like Ocampo, an injury opened up a spot that gave the kid a shot. And like Ocampo has not left the rotation since!

RF Samuel Helmrich- wants to be a power hitter, why fight it?? Also signed long term so won't be asking for crazy 10+ mil plus in a few years.

2B Bob Burleson & Jerry Robbins- asked them to replace Zamaro and boy have they. The Bob signing really stabilized what started to become a mini spiral. Bob, enjoy free agency again next year. We love ya!


Ok who is pissing me off:

The injury gods. Ok I know each season brings some amount with year to year variation, but WTF?? Zamaro- out , Gallo- out for the seaon. Hector G, Manny O, Samuel H, Romano G all out at some pt in the season. Lets not even talk about the minor league system!!!

LF Sekien Suitani Well not every trade I guess is good. Ratings are there, he seems to fit, yet not seeing it on the field. In the end, this trade sucked for both teams.

P Dave Carr- "put this guy in a spacious ballpark and he will put up respectable numbers". What park is my scout referring to cuz he certainly doesn't mean Pawtucket. Tommy Lang you are not.

P Alonzo Gugierrez- Ok he plays for Los Alamos now. As of now the worst "non-signing" I've did since taking over. I'm happy he is having a nice twilight year considering how most drop off by now, but no way I thought he'd hold this good. I got to focused on the "comp" pick. Dumb!

In the end, we are right in it. Lets hope for no more devastating injuries (Attn: Samuel H) and lets try to get in there 3 years in a row!!!

[funclown]

VIEW FROM THE TROPHY CASE....

- Woodbury is proving that whole "contract year" theory...

- I feel like Gus Jenkins' snub from New Brew consideration has all but been forgotten with the ACE like season he is having. Love this kid.

- Happy to see some teams that have been in "rebuild" (or build in some cases) are starting to see the fruits of their labor. Nice to see some new names in the driver's seat.

- We have an interesting 2nd half coming. I feel like the team I have right now is going to look DRASTICALLY different from the team I start the playoffs with. I feel like I have to make some big changes before I get so cap-strung that I have to play with a 20 man team... OK not really... but... I have a lot of young talent that is forcing me to push some Vets towards the block. However, since there is a 23 team "no trade clause" imposed on me... haven't figured out yet how to pull it off.

That's not true, I'd trade with ya.

[Clay]

That's not true, I'd trade with ya.

Silly, Clown... You only trade your talent for mediocre players... We don't have mediocre players in VIR.

I'll trade with anyone.

[Gyrodork]

We've been breathing in Mississippi's dust since day one this season. Unfortunately, Javelinas seem to like the dust.

Dealba is finally showing his age. It looked liked Tesina's career was over, but he's raised his average 20 points in the last 11 games. Phil Sephton is washed up at 31; as is Salguero at 32. Curt Knight and Hector Gonzalez both fell off a cliff; and Artie Dickerson is really pissing me off.

I'm guessing I'll be putting some guys up on trade waivers this season.

[funclown]

We've been breathing in Mississippi's dust since day one this season. Unfortunately, Javelinas seem to like the dust.

Dealba is finally showing his age. It looked liked Tesina's career was over, but he's raised his average 20 points in the last 11 games. Phil Sephton is washed up at 31; as is Salguero at 32. Curt Knight and Hector Gonzalez both fell off a cliff; and Artie Dickerson is really pissing me off.

I'm guessing I'll be putting some guys up on trade waivers this season.

I know why Artie is pissing you off.

[Delandis]

Carmen = Ok did expect another good year, but for a time he really carried us early on. Is 50hrs possible????

Its 1993, right?


The juice is loose!!!!!