SIM COMPLETE - 1996 - SIM 8

[Carlos]

Now, now. Don't forget Garcia. He's been better than Castor. Knight tweeted that he loves Baltimore and thinks the seafood is way better than Hartford.

Chicks dig the long ball.

[Delandis]

Baltimore Bulldogs
Week #8 Performance: 6-1
26-25 overall, 1 GB in WC, 2 GB in Porter

2-1 at Los Alamos
4-0 vs California

Its been a more than a year but it feels good to be finally be on this side of .500 again. A big week as we were able to win a couple of games in dramatic fashion and gain a bit of momentum as the season is in full swing.

The Good

-How far can this team go? I'm not sure if we are good enough to make the playoffs, but we have defied Shavermetrics and shown that we are a team that can at least compete. We've gone 17-11 in during the month of May, which is tied for the 2nd best record in the IL over that span.

-The Rex Knight trade has looked to be very beneficial for both teams involved. On our side of the equation, Knight has taken a below average team on his back and carried us back above .500. Since coming to Baltimore in late April (4/29), "Thrifty" has hit .382/.484/.775 with 9 HR, 21 BB. In the second game of the series against California, Rex capped another magical week with an inside the park, grand slam home run (in Baltimore) to tie California in the 9th inning. We went on to win the game 6-5 in extra innings.


-Not to be outdone, veteran infielder, Johnny Buzzell was shafted for Player of Week. The 40-year old, South Carolina native, hit .357 for the week including 5 bombs and an eye-popping, 16 RBI. He also hit a walk-off grand slam this week as balls were just flying off his bat (pause). I guess he feels like he's got his swing back, because he also is asking for a 2-year extension.

-Our bullpen was sick last week, and I don't mean swine flu. We posted a 1.71 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and had 41 K in just 31 innings of work. Danny Rodriquez has still yet to give up an earned run as our closer and 1994 #2 draft pick, Derek Vleugel, got his first taste of BLB action, pitching 3.3 innings without giving up an ER and striking out five.


The Bad

-There wasn't much to complain about, however, Jerry Kraft has been put on waivers. The veteran just doesn't have what it takes to pitch in Phillips Field anymore. The only game we lost, he started, and gave up 4 runs in 2.7 innings. It sucks to see him decline like this and hopefully someone will give him a chance as a reliever in a bigger park.

Up Next

-This recent run of good play and injuries to key players on other squads have the team optimistic about making a run for the playoffs this year. However, it will all start by playing well against our division rivals, all of whom, we meet next week.

[Delandis]

Now, now. Don't forget Garcia. He's been better than Castor. Knight tweeted that he loves Baltimore and thinks the seafood is way better than Hartford.

I'm glad they are doing well. Garcia has always been a very good pitcher, you just couldn't tell pitching in Baltimore. I'm not sure what's gotten into Don. He's playing like I always envisioned him to. I'm very happy he's doing well as he is. He looks like he has found a nice home and will be a staple in Hartford for a while.

[umd]

I'm glad they are doing well. Garcia has always been a very good pitcher, you just couldn't tell pitching in Baltimore. I'm not sure what's gotten into Don. He's playing like I always envisioned him to. I'm very happy he's doing well as he is. He looks like he has found a nice home and will be a staple in Hartford for a while.

I think it's worked out quite nicely for both of us. Knight would be up for early season MVP in any League w/out Virginia.

[Delandis]

I think it's worked out quite nicely for both of us.

I think so. I'm especially happy for JJG though. He was the first starter that we selected, and brought up through our minors that turned out to be decent. Sad to see him go, but he needed a better location to showcase his talent.

Knight would be up for early season MVP in any League w/out Virginia.

I'm used to it. It been the same for quite a while now. Wallace, Caballero, Kubota, and now Knight. A terrible era to be a good lefty hitter in Baltimore.

[Carlos]

I think it's worked out quite nicely for both of us. Knight would be up for early season MVP in any League w/out Virginia.

So you mean the Domestic League?

[Clay]

Someone has to come in 3rd in the SS voting.

[BradZ]

C Shawn Bowen takes home IL Rookie of the Month honors for May with a rather pedestrian .298 | .347 | .404 | .751 slash line. Adjusted for park factors that's practically Hector Chavez type numbers. #TheIkeis2ndInSizeOnlyToYellowstone

[Delandis]

I think it's worked out quite nicely for both of us. Knight would be up for early season MVP in any League w/out Virginia.

We actually play each other in inter-league play the week after next.


Homecoming for JJG and Castor.

[Clay]

C Shawn Bowen takes home IL Rookie of the Month honors for May with a rather pedestrian .298 | .347 | .404 | .751 slash line. Adjusted for park factors that's practically Hector Chavez type numbers. #TheIkeis2ndInSizeOnlyToYellowstone

Reigning in Colonial National Park, I believe, was the best thing that's ever happened to my franchise.

[BradZ]

Reigning in Colonial National Park, I believe, was the best thing that's ever happened to my franchise.

As soon as I have some cash (probably end of this season) I'll do a bit of tweaking. I'm not going to go crazy, but I seriously think it can impact the development of young hitters. Bowen for example home vs road this season:

H: .145 | .266 | .200 | .466
R: .362 | .407 | .487 | .894

Ridiculous.

[Clay]

As soon as I have some cash (probably end of this season) I'll do a bit of tweaking. I'm not going to go crazy, but I seriously think it can impact the development of young hitters. Bowen for example home vs road this season:

H: .145 | .266 | .200 | .466
R: .362 | .407 | .487 | .894

Ridiculous.

I agree.

81 games per season at a place that you control. Every player decision I make is based on two things: (1) Do they fit my park and (2) are they injury prone? That's it. Hitters and Pitchers alike. Any owner who doesn't know how their park plays is giving away wins.

[liquidcrash]

I guess Bowen is the leader for New Brew at the moment? It's a close race with this bumper crop of rookies.

[BradZ]

I guess Bowen is the leader for New Brew at the moment? It's a close race with this bumper crop of rookies.

Eh. I'm hoping Wessin Ramirez settles in and goes on a tear at some point to boost his candidacy.

[liquidcrash]

Well, someone has to win it this year. If no one makes a run soon, I'm just going to put Chan-koo Kim in the lineup more and see if I can steal one. I'm starting to think Pancho Valentin somehow might have a chance here.