"Name 3" - 1997 Edition

[Delandis]

We did this in 85' and '94 and I wanted to see if we can have something to talk about until tomorrow morning and maybe even a couple BLB weeks into the season.

So again.... The RULES:

I'll give a topic... the next person who comes along and names three people/teams/things that fit the topic... and then leaves the next topic...

Examples... of possible topics... feel free to borrow from these if you can't come up with one:

Name 3 Key Player Acquisitions
Name 3 Players to Watch in '97
Name 3 Rookies to Watch in '97
Name 3 Teams on the Rise/Decline

You get the point....

Ok..... We'll start in the same place we started back in '85 (and '94):

Name 3 BLB Superstars Likely to "Hit the Wall" in '97

[Clay]

Name 3 BLB Superstars Likely to "Hit the Wall" in '97

Hmmmmm...

#1 - Mel Woodbury - Painful to say, might be tougher to watch.

#2 - Dale O'Hegarty - Some could argue that he doesn't fit the Superstar label, but he was at a point. I think injuries have beaten him down.
#3 - Dani Alvarez - I think its a minor wall - a retaining wall maybe - but he's been super quiet for the last year. I think he needs to come back to the IL. Maybe the Stout. Just sayin'.

***

3 All-Stars Who Will Change Teams Before the Deadline

***

[Jimmy]

3 All-Stars Who Will Change Teams Before the Deadline

***

Interesting.

1. Samuel Helmrich- Great contract, player. Someone will give the clown a whopper of a deal to bring him in.

2. Tino Suarez- Big contract. Almost too big. But someone will decide to go for it and take a chance.

3. Hector Castre- He almost left Batavia last year...

3 biggest names that will retire this year.

[funclown]

3 biggest names that will retire this year.

DH - Harry Keppel
P- Brian Harahan
P- Joe Toapanta

BOOK IT!

Name 3 teams that will significantly improve in 97.

[Clay]

Name 3 teams that will significantly improve in 97.

Hmmmmm...don't want to tip my Shavermetrics' hand... So I'll say on my opinion...

#1 - California Kodiaks - Don't think they'll sniff the Playoffs, but I think they are building the right way and Linty has the patience to bloom. I think this could be the year where they move back into the 2nd tier from the basement.

#2 - Davenport Brawlers - D'Port goes from "because someone had to win it" division winner/playoff team to LEGIT top shelf IL team. Might be a little SP shallow, but GREAT bullpen and one of the best bats in the game.

#3 - Windy City Playboys - Part smart building, part OOTP 12 conversion. Something feels right about the Playboys this year.

***

3 Single Season Records That Could Fall in 97 (and by what Player)

***

[Delandis]

Hmmmmm...don't want to tip my Shavermetrics' hand... So I'll say on my opinion...

#1 - California Kodiaks - Don't think they'll sniff the Playoffs, but I think they are building the right way and Linty has the patience to bloom. I think this could be the year where they move back into the 2nd tier from the basement.

#2 - Davenport Brawlers - D'Port goes from "because someone had to win it" division winner/playoff team to LEGIT top shelf IL team. Might be a little SP shallow, but GREAT bullpen and one of the best bats in the game.

#3 - Windy City Playboys - Part smart building, part OOTP 12 conversion. Something feels right about the Playboys this year.

***

3 Single Season Records That Could Fall in 97 (and by what Player)

***

1. Home Runs, Don Castor
-I think Castor has proven himself as the premier slugger in the BLB. He came dangerously close last year and if Hartford remains healthy, he'll have the protection to break 50.

2. Career Singles
- Takianibu Sato may not play professionally ever again and Shitty is only one single behind the Sato.

3. Single Season RBI, Castor
- Again with a healthy Sau, Hernandez, and Durham this is THE best offensive squad in the BLB. Castor is the best guy in the. Est situation with the ability to break his own RBI record.

Who are the 3 most overpaid players in the BLB?

[Pat]

1 Michio Nago
2 Robert Abbott
3 Jerry Chase
4 Mike Murdock

Top 3 FA signings?

[Carlos]

1. Home Runs, Don Castor
-I think Castor has proven himself as the premier slugger in the BLB. He came dangerously close last year and if Hartford remains healthy, he'll have the protection to break 50.

2. Career Singles
- Takianibu Sato may not play professionally ever again and Shitty is only one single behind the Sato.

3. Single Season RBI, Castor
- Again with a healthy Sau, Hernandez, and Durham this is THE best offensive squad in the BLB. Castor is the best guy in the. Est situation with the ability to break his own RBI record.

Who are the 3 most overpaid players in the BLB?

1. Robbert Abbott
Ever since he signed his big contract, he hasn't posted an OPS over .776. Unlike other highly paid, now weak hitters, Abbott doesn't even make up for it on the defensive end. He's a poor infielder and too weak a hitter to be a well-paid 1B. Not looking good now that he's on the wrong side of 30.

2. Don McGuire
Paid for his power, but because of his inability to hit for average or avoid the strikeout, doesn't really get the chance to impact the game as much as his power should. Has not posted an OPS higher than .745 in three seasons and is a career .257/.325 hitter.

3. Denver Brode
Despite a career 3.21 ERA and 152-106 record which is quality for a top half rotation pitcher, Brode is paid like an ace and does not exactly perform like one. His WHIP hasn't been below 1.51 in three seasons. He has finished under .500 in those same three seasons and walked 94 men twice in that span.


...blah, you can answer Pat's question since he didn't seriously answer the one I did.

[umd]

1 Michio Nago
2 Robert Abbott
3 Jerry Chase
4 Mike Murdock

Top 3 FA signings?

1 Gremades to Baltimore - perfect 1-2 punch with Rex Knight

2 Guzman to Mississippi - innings eater who somehow wins a ton of games and a possible #4 playoff starter.

3 Jerry Craig to Pittsburgh - now we'll really see if he's a starter. Pitt better hope so after letting a lot of their offense walk in Gremades and Negron.

[Delandis]

1 Gremades to Baltimore - perfect 1-2 punch with Rex Knight

2 Guzman to Mississippi - innings eater who somehow wins a ton of games and a possible #4 playoff starter.

3 Jerry Craig to Pittsburgh - now we'll really see if he's a starter. Pitt better hope so after letting a lot of their offense walk in Gremades and Negron.

New question?

[umd]

New question?

Oh yeah, which 3 teams not named VA have a chance to make an appearance in the Championship?

[Clay]

Oh yeah, which 3 teams not named VA have a chance to make an appearance in the Championship?

No IL teams please

[Delandis]

Oh yeah, which 3 teams not named VA have a chance to make an appearance in the Championship?

Batavia Muckducks: They are the 2nd best team in the IL. I think the loss of Woodbury and a few key injuries have closed the gap ever so slightly in the IL. A healthy Batavia can go head to head with this year's VA.

Hartford Whalers: Another team that has the talent to match VA but injuries, like in Batavia, are a huge concern.

Carolina Tobs: The Tobs went out quietly last year to an inferior team. Look for this young squad to perform better this year.


Name the 3 Best Leadoff Hitters in 1997.

[Delandis]

No IL teams please

Too late.

[Clay]

Shavermetrics may or may not have Virginia as the 5th ranked team in the IL.

Stay tuned.