BLB "What If..." #8

[Clay]

Ok... Got another one. This is a bigger project so it can live for multiple days of Chat.

SCENARIO:

We hit the BLB Fast Forward button and its now 5 years later. We're in the homestretch of the 2000 season getting ready to crown our 1st 21st century Champ.

What does your team look like?

What does the league look like?

What teams have won their 1st title since 95?

Who are the top players in the league?

Etc...

[Lintyfresh85]

Best case for California

C - Sebastien Turcotte (AA) / William Zimmerman (A)
1B - Joe Lopez (BLB)
2B - ? / FA
3B - Ron Pillsbury (A)
SS - Alex de Jesus (A)
LF - Zuo-qian Zhang (AAA) / Willie Quick (AA)
CF - Clint Butler (AA) / FA
RF - Sonny Marshburn (BLB)

SP - Alex Torres (BLB)
SP - Doug Bates (AAA)
SP - D.J. Bright (AA)
SP - Shawn Lawson (A)
SP - Curt Warren (BLB) / Ediwn Solis (AA) / Jeremiah Washington (AA) / Artie Waters (A)

Top player in league - Someone from Virginia
Titles - 3 Virginia, 2 DL teams

[Ryan]

What does your team look like?

At this point, we're poised to be the top team in the DL, having finished one of the most successful rebuilds in league history. There are no bad contracts on our team, and every dollar is spent with purpose. Good farm system, but probably not in the top 10.

What does the league look like?

The league is now running on OOTP X, resulting from the fallout of a highly debated switch following the 1995 campaign. After neither side would budge, JJ suggested moving back to X as a comprimise. After four and half real time months debating the switch, all GM's unanimously agreed.

Oh, BTW, JJ is back. Took over Virginia when Clay left. Clay left after he caught Delandis, UMD, and Skerik outside his home in the early hours of the morning, Friday, DEC 30th. As Clay was firing up the sim, he heard some rustling in the bushes outside his den. Turns out the trio was attempting once and for all to catch Clay cheating. Straw that broke the camels back.

Z has GM'd three more teams in the league. Matt has won the last three Brewmasters, and has a higher payroll than any two teams combined now that we eliminated the CAP, the day after Clay left.

What teams have won their 1st title since 95?

Batavia

Who are the top players in the league?

JJ Gremades.

Since the switch back to OOTP X, players are appearing with the "forum name" first name in the game. JJ Gremades was the first overall selection by the Virgina Colonials during the 1998 first year player draft. The pick wasn't acquired via trade, as most of you are likely thinking.

No, the pick was earned. JJ's first move after taking over the Colonials was to put his stamp on the franchise, making every player wear the uniform #40, in honor of BLB legend Joe Reyes. In addition, *he began moving Virginia standouts Chavez, that Pancho guy, and Daly for former Millers and draft picks. This plan backfired, resulting in dead last league finishes in 1996 and 1997.

*Oddly enough, each of these players suffered CEI's following their trades. Of course they were granted back into the league via the leagues ban on CEI's, but they were just never the same players. In fact, after three major arm surgies in two years, Pancho is out of the league, selling insurance in Detroit.

[Lintyfresh85]

Joe Reyes retired jersey reference... you win the day sir!

[Clay]

I'd watch that version of the league.

[Delandis]

Me?
In Detroit?
In December?

Watching Clay "go to work" at his computer is something I do not want to see.

[Clay]

That is the screenplay Carlos needs to write.

UMD, Skerik and ElPrezdis in Detroit in a "Home Alone"-esque caper.

[Carlos]

I'm dying.


Sent from my mobile device.

[Delandis]

What does your team look like?
-I think we have one of the better young rotations with Vleugel (24), Coates (27), Katsura (23) and some other young guy I drafted in the '96 draft. -Our bullpen is seasoned, but we still have 1-2 years of seasoning to catch the perennial powerhouses of Carolina, Virginia, and Batavia.

-Offensively, I think Castor has eclipsed the 350 HR mark, but still 200-250 HR behind HOF and Career HR king, Steady Alverez. I think Pat Marlin now (27) has come into his own and is a force to deal with when he's in Phillips Field.

-Speaking of Phillips Field, it is finally the size of a decent park, only keeping the lefty-friendly 300 ft left line.


What does the league look like?
-Parity. The salary cap has slowed the juggernaut that is Virginia to a pace where multiple teams are title contenders. Virginia is still pretty good and still has talent continuously coming up the pipeline, but they have yet to find that magical combination that was there in the 90's.

-The Porter has become an arms race like the Ale of 1995. With the new huge budget and suddenly no complaints of monetary disparity, Batavia wins their 2nd championship in 5 years.

-Carolina is the new team to beat, and the Bock as a whole, is no longer the laughing stock of the IL.

What teams have won their 1st title since 95?
-Hartford, Carolina, Batavia

Who are the top players in the league?

Pitching:
-Pancho Herrera (VIR)
-Eric Kiefer (WIL)
-Derek Vleugel (BAL)
-Doug Coates (MOR)
-Val Aparacio (CAR)

Hitting:
Hector Chavez (VIR)
Johnathan Morris (HYU)
Amri Sau (HAR)
Zak Gaston (WIL)
Eron DeLeon (CAR)

[Clay]

Carolina has already one a title, Prez.

Stupid research department!

[Clay]

I see the Year 2000 version of the Colonials something like this....

C - Johnny Davis (A) - We likely move Jonah McCarthy this coming off-season and let Pirro Hidalgo and Rod Miller fight it out for the job in '96. They hold the fort a few seasons while Johnny Davis gets his chops in the minors.

1B - Yoritoki Maeda (BLB) - Maeda has probably moved off the hot corner by then and, at 34, is covering 1B. Could easily see him winning a DWI at that position someday. He'll be coming off a contract year in '99, so hopefully we can afford him.

2B - Hector Baez (AAA) - Been waiting awhile for this kid to develop and I think he's another year away. By 2000 he'll be 29 and should be in his prime.

SS - Hector Chavez (BLB) - He'll be 32 and still playing out a very team-friendly contract. I anticipate Chavez being the "new Doorbell" for the team and league.

3B - Anastasio Colon (BLB) - He's playing 2B now, but I see him eventually moving to 3B when Maeda's time is right. 2000 will be his first year on new contract and our hopes are high.

CF - Jerry Daly (BLB) - He'll be 30 and if we can afford to keep him, he'll still be out there. He's my biggest question mark right now. Want him... but not sure he'll not be a casualty of a trade in the next two seasons.

LF - Doug Gill (BLB) - This kid feels like the real deal.

RF - TJ Knudson (A) - Got him with the Olivo pick and he's probably looking at a best case scenario of a '99 rookie season. Should be the next great Virginia RF if all goes well.

Top 3 SPs
Pancho
Morgan/Jenkins
David Heath

Morgan or Gus Jenkins likely leave town in the next two seasons. Probably can't afford both. David Heath wasn't feeling like our "next big thing"... but this season has me highly optimisitc about his future.

Closer
Efrain "Gadget" Gray

This is out worst case scenario for Gray. He may be our #1b SP if he gets that 3rd pitch. But, I'll be conservative and say he's a lights out Closer. (How's that for conservative?)

***

Whatever happened to......

Mel Woodbury - Finishes '96 in Virginia. Opts not to retire and instead gets overpaid by Pawtucket where the wheels immediately come off.

Danny Nelson - Continues to resign small contract in Virginia before finally hanging them up after 1997. I loud and passionate HOF campaign falls just 23 votes short. He now coaches in the California farm system.

***

I think the Top Players in the League are:

Hitters: Chavez - Al Hamilton - Amri Sau

Pitchers: Pancho - Raul Guzman - Pat Bryant

***

Virginia wins in '95
Maine beats Virginia in '96 (a bitter end to the Woodbury era)

97, 98 and 99 are won by Virginia, Batavia and Philly (in some order).

[Delandis]

Carolina has already won a title, Prez.

Stupid research department!

Thanks for catching that for me.

[Clay]

Thanks for catching that for me.

People forget that Carolina use to have a BLB team.

[Delandis]

People forget that Carolina use to have a BLB team.

When was this again?

[liquidcrash]

I hate you people.