1996 at the Break

[Clay]

Discuss....

...your team...
...your division...
...you plans...

[BradZ]

Team = mediocre
Division = mediocre
Plans = more mediocrity

Yep, that about sums it up.

[Matt]

Team = mediocre
Division = mediocre
Plans = more mediocrity

Yep, that about sums it up.

Ditto.

[liquidcrash]

Carolina Tobs Midseason Report

51-31, 1st place in Bock Division

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the first half of the season. We're in first place in the division, which was my goal for the year. We're on pace to win about 100 games. Still, there's plenty of room for improvement and things we need to do better to stay in the division lead.

So far, our lineup has scored 420 runs, good for 4th in the IL. But, we've pretty much been carried by Al Hamilton and Eron Deleon, our two all-star starters. The rest of the guys need to pick it up, especially since we've lost two starters in the past two sims.

We've given up the second fewest runs in the IL, but we stopped pitching well about a month and a half ago. Outside of Raul Frayo, my bullpen is a mess and we're getting inconsistent results from the rotation. At least once per week, I can count on this team to give up 10+ runs. We are going to be in trouble if the staff doesn't get back to pitching at a respectable level.

Going forward, we're in solid shape going into the second half, up by 9 games at the moment. I've got prospects and plenty of money to spend if I decide to make a move. We have played a lot of home games in the first half of the season, so the next two months are going to be rough going on the road. It's going to be interesting.

[Gyrodork]

Los Lunas Javelinas Mid-Season Report
47 - 35, 1st Place in the Lager Division by 1 game over the L.A. Dinos

We got off to a fast start in April, thanks largely to SP Willie Harrison and a strong Bullpen. My FA and Waiver pickups: SP Pat Kane, SP Dani Salcido, DH Kenichi Sato and 1B Jud Cobb (again) have been helpful overall; especially Cobb. Losing my starting LF, RF, SS and prospect/#5 SP for extended periods has hurt us. Fortunately Harrison has been pitching out of his arse; Maddox and Gonzalez stepped up their games in the OF and IF, respectively; and the Bullpen has been a God-send.

I've got 2/3 of my starting outfield back; and 4/5 of my rotation. But the June re-scout was unkind to a number of my veterans, especially in the rotation. I need a #2 or #3 SP. The Dinos are breathing down our necks and the Storm clouds are rolling in. There are plenty of head-to-head opportunities with those teams in the 2nd half. I may have to do some homework. But if we can stay healthy the rest of the way, I like our chances.

[Delandis]

Baltimore Bullldogs
42-40 - GB, 1st in Porter, T-1st in IL Wildcard

-Definitely a pleasant surprise to find ourselves in first place at the season's midpoint. TConsidered a serious contender for the Co-Commissioner's Cup at the start of the season, the big trade to bring Rex "Thrifty" Knight to Baltimore has catapulted us to contenders for the Porter crown in a year where there only seems to be two clear cut "good" teams in the IL.

1995 First Half Highlights:

-I can't say enough about Knight. Biased as I might be, I really think he is the front runner for the IL Stout Slugger Award. If you look at his numbers since moving to the Import League, Knight has been simply untouchable.

Rex Knight (Since April 29th)
<table border="1"><tbody><tr><th>G</th><th>AB</th><th>R</th><th>H</th><th>2B</th><th>HR
</th><th>RBI</th><th>BB</th><th>K</th><th>AVG</th><th>OBP</th><th>SLG</th><th>VORP</th></tr><tr><td>58
</td><td>219
</td><td>73
</td><td>87
</td><td>22
</td><td> 22
</td><td>65
</td><td>52
</td><td>12
</td><td>.397</td><td>.511</td><td>.808</td><td>63.1</td></tr></tbody></table>
That .511 OBP is simply unreal as Knight has had one of the better starts to the season that the league has ever seen. We were 7-15 and tied for the worst record in the IL before Rex came to Baltimore. Since that time, we've gone 36-27 which is the 3rd best record in the IL over that span.

-Brad Cherry has been a pleasant surprise for us. I said the exact same thing last year. He was hitting .320 at the break last year and I was surprised. He had a knee injury that seemed to zap just a bit of his speed, but it obviously didn't effect his eye or his swing as he's hitting .338 for the year as a lead off hitter. After raising his batting average almost 20 points over the previous season (.338, 7th in IL), Baltimore fans are just left to wonder how he was left off the All-Star roster for a second consecutive year.

-Johnny Buzzell is the 2nd oldest player in the BLB (Ken Cahill is 41) but definitely isn't playing like it. He's having a career year and pretty much earning a chance to get another year here in Baltimore.


-Our pitching hasn't been great but we've had our moments. However, we try to keep in mind that the average age of our pitching staff is just 25.1. Our most inconsistent pitchers this year also happen to be our oldest pitchers (Kraft/Grady). We've gotten decent production from such a young staff, and I am really looking forward to see what this group can do in the coming years.

We are actively looking to move Kraft and will make an attractive deal to get Kraft our roster.


2nd Half Outlook:

-To be honest, I'm really surprised that Batavia has started selling so early in the season. I still think they are the best team in the Porter and unless they dismantle it all, it will be a dogfight down the stretch. We've had the luxury (or curse) to have played a good percentage of our games at home so we expect the Thrifty Train to slow down a bit in the 2nd half of the season.

Either way, it should be fun to see where this leads.

[Clay]

Virginia Colonials....

.739 baseball on the road...

Enough said.



U Can't Touch This

Jake - What is my alcohol selection this season?

[mwetts]

Rex Knight (Since April 29th)
<table border="1"><tbody><tr><th>G</th><th>AB</th><th>R</th><th>H</th><th>2B</th><th>3B</th><th>RBI</th><th>BB</th><th>K</th><th>AVG</th><th>OBP</th><th>SLG</th><th>VORP</th></tr><tr><td>58
</td><td>219
</td><td>73
</td><td>87
</td><td>22
</td><td> 1
</td><td>65
</td><td>52
</td><td>12
</td><td>.397</td><td>.511</td><td>.808</td><td>63.1</td></tr></tbody></table>

Guy hits 22 HR's and you leave that out of the stats for your argument?

[Matt]

-To be honest, I'm really surprised that Batavia has started selling so early in the season. I still think they are the best team in the Porter and unless they dismantle it all, it will be a dogfight down the stretch. We've had the luxury (or curse) to have played a good percentage of our games at home so we expect the Thrifty Train to slow down a bit in the 2nd half of the season.

Either way, it should be fun to see where this leads.

As I've told a few curious people I'm not sure why. Boredom...throwing in the white flag to Virginia again (or Carolina)...boredom.

I honestly think if I keep the team together we'll get it in gear and win the division. Our SP can throw with anyone but to this point they haven't. I would assume good dice rolls would follow bad dice rolls but maybe it just isn't our year. We've had the same basic team for almost 4-5 years now...and a fair amount of success with it. It was a good run.

[Delandis]

As I've told a few curious people I'm not sure why. Boredom...throwing in the white flag to Virginia again (or Carolina)...boredom.

VA's record is a bit misleading due to the lack of talent in the IL, a direct result of The Great Arms Race of 1995. They really aren't as good as they were last year and you went toe to toe with them then.

I said last year that there were only two teams that could beat VA: Batavia and Hartford. Lo and behold, both teams went seven games with VIR. Hell, both teams had good chances to end it much earlier.

This year, I think there are four teams that can play with VA: Batavia and Carolina in the IL, Hartford and LA (yes that LA) in the DL.

However, if you want to dismantle it all and start all over, be my guess.

I could definitely make use of that starting rotation, with a Porter member discount of course.

[Delandis]

Guy hits 22 HR's and you leave that out of the stats for your argument?

Just remember who moved him from Hartford when its time to vote, ok?

[Clay]

I love that Prez makes the Virginia's record is deceiving in the same thread where he fails to mention that Knight's stats are 70% on the ROAD versus at home. Let's not forget, Loren Wallace once crushed it in Baltimore as well.

What I do agree on is Batavia. And I told Matt this. To me, he's still the team to beat in that division. Water finds it's level (aka Baltimore has to play some road games and Philly will remember they're Philly). Personally, if I'm Batavia, I make my run till the deadline... if I have to blow it up then... blow it up. But, to me, never pass on a playoff shot if you have one cause you never know. We'll call that "The Los Alamos Factor."

[Delandis]

I love that Prez makes the Virginia's record is deceiving in the same thread where he fails to mention that Knight's stats are 70% on the ROAD versus at home. Let's not forget, Loren Wallace once crushed it in Baltimore as well.

I'm confused, 70% on the road?

Did you mean his #'s are 70% at home?

We've had the luxury (or curse) to have played a good percentage of our games at home so we expect the Thrifty Train to slow down a bit in the 2nd half of the season.

Hmmm, looks like I did mention it.

Hey don't get all Clay-ish on me. You guys are still the team to beat this year. But your bullpen is way worse than last year. Gadget is good but he's not ready for the big time just yet, and you've (finally) had some injuries at the BLB level (and in the minors now that I took a look, ouch) that will seriously impact your team come playoffs. Couple those issues with the fact that Carolina, Hartford, and LA are all REALLY GOOD teams this year, I think this year is the best we've had in years to challenge and the dethrone the king. IF I was (were?) Batavia, I'd be buying, not selling.


AND BTW, Loren Wallace WAS awesome and would still be awesome if he didn't get hit with the dreaded injury bug just three years into his big league career. It wasn't like he was fragile but all of that running into the wall, making spectacular catches caught up with him early in his career (you wouldn't know anything about that). Outside of Doorbell or Chavez, he's probably the only guy to hit .350+ and 30 HR in a season and not win the Stout Slugger that year.

[Lintyfresh85]

Currently on pace to break the 'record' for worst team ERA in IL history at 5.76.

[BradZ]

Water finds it's level (aka Baltimore has to play some road games and Philly will remember they're Philly).

Philly knows who Philly is. Perhaps they're delusions, but before the year I thought we were roughly a .500 team and so far that's just about what we've been. If you know something I don't know about an imminent crash I'd like a bit more of a heads up. Thanks.