SIM COMPLETE - 1998 - SIM 2

[tomr1962]

Also, that Er trade was a steal for WC. On a Pat like level.

Maybe in the short turn. But I don't think so in the long term

[Delandis]

We're awarding the division to a team who hasn't even played a road game yet?

Actually the award is going to the reigning Porter champs and IL Runner-up.

I'm sure we can only pitch worse than the BLB leading 2.50 ERA in parks outside of BMore.

[Clay]

Actually the award is going to the reigning Porter champs and IL Runner-up....

...who hasn't even played a road game yet.

[Clay]

Maybe in the short turn. But I don't think so in the long term

Good point. Er did turn 25 last month.

[Delandis]

...who hasn't even played a road game yet.

I'm pretty sure you said the same thing last year.

[Clay]

I'm pretty sure you said the same thing last year.

Pretty sure you did too.... plus the whole thing about having my number after the first half. Pretty sure I know how that ended.

[Pat]

When can we trade for players who were signed in this past off-season?

[Clay]

June 15th - In Game (end of the month - IRL)

[Pat]

Thanks. I should be out of it by then.

[Clay]

Thanks. I should be out of it by then.

If only you had anything of value.

[Spectre]

Another 3-3 sim. Kinsey is off to a hot start this year. Hopefully, he can come back after a subpar season last year.

[Pat]

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/..._box_3689.html

[funclown]

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/..._box_3689.html

Poor Pat Cole.

[Pat]

Washington Bats (6-6; 1GB in Stout)
3-3 Sim = 1-2 @ Baltimore, 2-1 @ California

The Good
I'm really excited about the waiver claim of SP Hector "Blade" Pegan from Dallas. The guy is flawed, sure. To say he has "Control Issues" would be an understatement. He's lead the league in walks multiple times. He's on pace this year for 149 BB in 144 IP. However, I think this guy still has it. Just turned 31-years-old this off-season, Pagan is a team leader and was still highly regarded in just 1996, when Dallas traded a top prospect, a 1st and 2nd round pick for the SP. He's overpaid at $10.5, but after dumping Robert Abbott and Mike Murdock's $32,000,000 worth of contracts, I have plenty of budget room to take the risk. After struggling on opening week, Pagan was placed on waivers, and in his last start for the Snappers: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 11 GB in a 3-1 win. Coming to the IL, playing in a pitchers park, with elite defenders, don't be surprised to see Pagan pitching near his career averages of 3.50 ERA / 1.40 WHIP. He's in a contract year as well. With how starved my team is for quality SP, he is worth a shot. If my team struggles into the summer, he seems like a very high demand waiver trade piece.

Mal Brady continues to rake. Cemented at the cleanup spot in both lineups, Brady hit three homeruns this week. Small sample size, but he is on pace for 54 HRs, 54 doubles, 141 RBI. Best D.C. power threat since Miguel Angel Padilla. A catcher by trade, Brady is getting most of his starts this year at first, where he is average at best. He's really a defensive liability, which isn't very Washington-like...but having a 40+ HR threat isn't very Washington-like, either.

The Bad
My RPs with control issues are showing said issues. Willie Watkins and Leo Mena are pretty highly regarded by my scout, but they are borderline because they can't throw strikes. Combined, they have 19 walks in 11.2 innings. I expect them to get better as the season goes on but I can't count on these guys if they can't get the ball over the plate.

Where have you gone Artie Walker? After two years of tearing the cover off the ball, he struggled mightily in 1997. After a very solid Spring, I thought he would bounce back. However, he is hitting just .192 with a .531 OPS. He is currently being outplayed by Doug Briggs, the rookie who is hitting .318 in 10 games. Briggs is also 8/8 on catching abilities... Walker is "fragile" and won't start every game, and if he continues to struggle, they might just split the duties going forward.

The Ugly
My team is 6-6. SPs Pat Daniels and Art Casey are responsible for four of those losses. This week, both Daniels and Casey got rocked by California and didn't make it out of the second inning. That's the kind of performance my team suffered from last year and it really put a strain on my bullpen. Casey has since been moved to Mop-up and Spot-starter, and Daniels will be given another shot to prove he can stay in the rotation. Combined this season they have given up 20 ER in just 9.2 innings. Gross. If Daniels struggles further, the Bats might switch to the five-man rotation, which isn't the norm.

The Minors
Lot of good things happened in the minors for the Washington Organization...

In Triple-A: Top prospect, SP Travis Dufour has struggled with his control, performance-wise and rating-wise, since being drafted. At 25-years-old, his clock is ticking to develop that rating two more points (according to my scout). In his 1998 debut: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. A sign of things to come, hopefully.... My trio of young outfielders all hit in the first week. Toby Day is the only "top prospect" but I'm also really high on Del Taylor and Vinny Nunez, who both hit north of .300 this first week. Day will return to the majors at some point during this season, but with both Taylor and Nunez turning 26 in December, they will likely make their BLB debuts at some point during the 1998 season.

In Double-A: OF Heishu Shirashi was a first-round pick in 1996. He was hurt early in 1997, only playing nine games at the Double-A level. This first week, he hit .414 with a 1.092 OPS. He expects to be playing in the majors. His ratings have him probably good enough to be my #4 or #5 OF at the top level. He will be moved to Triple-A this sim. A top notch defender at all three OF positions, I've been giving Shirashi a chance to develop a little of his infield ability. This week he suited up at second base, and in seven games, had five errors. I guess you can only play first base with "4s" on IF ratings. My scout also thinks he has 4-6-5 pitching potential as well. Keep an eye on this kid. If he hits Triple-A, he might be a summer call-up to the BLB.... When Mwetts drafted OF Baldassario Vercesi, I laughed. I told him it was a poor selection. He however was very confident in the selection of the Italian baseball player, taking him 12th overall in 1994. After falling off the prospect list, Pittsburgh cut Vercesi in the summer of 1997. As per my history, I scooped the failed prospect up immediately. Last year, in 28 Double-A games for the Bats, he had an .802 OPS. This year, at 25-years-old, he is hitting best on my squad (after promoting Shirashi, that is), .324 with a .967 OPS. Now, my scout thinks the guy is "destined to be a career minor leaguer" and currently has his ratings (4-3-6-3-4) maxed out, but he's an interesting story. He can field, he can run, he has power and very good intangibles. I think he has a shot to be a #4/#5 OF when it's all said and done.

In Single-A: The Closer prospect I picked up in the Robert Abbott trade from Pawtucket, Dusty Casserino pitched in three games this week. Two saves and one win. My scout thinks the guy is only going to become an above average middle reliever, but he made my ORG top 20 list and I like the potential the 19-year-old has... It's been a long time coming for Dave Miller but he is finally showing signs. A fourth-round pick by Dallas in 1995 out of high school, Miller struggled against Single-A pitching to start, like most high schoolers do. He was cut after two years of poor performance, and like many Bats products in the past, Washington scooped him up immediately. Last year in 121 Single-A games, he hit just .232 with a .577 OPS. Sure it's just one week, but Miller hit .273 with a .857 OPS. My scout sees his potential as 5's across the board, and a "fringe bat", but he's got potential.

The Injured
One of my top prospects, for a long time, Nari Garin is almost ready to return from his Spring Training injury. The lefty 1B has a great eye, is a power threat and can run a bit. He will soon be making his Triple-A debut after hitting .268 with 10 HRs, 104 BB and a .843 OPS in Double-A last year. A first-round pick in 1993, Garin has spent a lot of time in the minors and still hasn't swung a bat at Triple-A, but the kid is still just 22-years-old.

[Delandis]

Pretty sure you did too.... plus the whole thing about having my number after the first half. Pretty sure I know how that ended.

This is going to be an awesome year.