SIM COMPLETE - 2000 - SIM 26

[Clay]

NEXT SIM: TBD

***

If you don't want to know, don't click...

Spoiler

It appears we have 2 Lonnie Coleman games for the first time. The first (for the Division in the DL) has to be settled before we can get to the IL Wildcard. That means two more SIMs before the playoffs officially begin.

Once the two DL teams are in... I'll run it. Then we'll need both IL teams in.

The first official Playoff SIM needs to run no later than Monday Morning. As long as we hit that, we'll get these in when and where we can.

Good Luck!

[Carlos]

Wooooooooooow.

[Jake]

Damn. We just missed.

[Dave]

Spoiler

When I heard there were Lonnie Coleman games, somehow I knew we were one of them. How exciting. Sucks that Lonnie Johnston is going to miss that game and potentially a few others, but we remain confident.

Also, that Dimmick injury is going to make the DL playoffs interesting....

[Carlos]

Damn. We just missed.

I laughed.

[Carlos]

A few things about the Denver Bulls that matter to me and likely don't matter to you because we finished 45-117 (right, that's the reason we don't care, Carlos).

- My scout and OSA really like this Ippei Adachi kid. We finally gave him a little chance late in the season and he hit .258 (including a .394 week to end the season). We are going to let him play starting OF next season and see if he can actually reach these potentials.

- We could use money in the off season to field veterans but I'm finding that I stopped being patient with young players and look what it got me. So Ed Armstrong and his .258 average over 31 games is going to be our starting short stop next season. He can field and he projects to be a good average hitter. He also hit .350 this last week. I like that.

- Travis Cesare hit the ball so well when he first came up and then September happened. He likely isn't a starting catcher (not with Porter in our system and picking it up the last few weeks including a .429 average in the last week - catching the trend with this post?), but we like him as a back up at the very least.

- DeBenedetti did not hit well but he is our best hitting prospect and the one legit prospect that saw time in the Top 100. So he can hit .202 in 32 games (he did hit .292 in AAA) and still find the field next year. We just don't know where on the field because he can't actually field. He can run and we love that.

- As crazy as this sounds, Seth Funk could be a starter next season. He hit too well in the minors to give up on him in his first full season.

- We really like Tommy Keatts. We really hate his fielding or lack there of.

- Both Jarrod Parker and Harris Vreke will join Appachi in the OF next season as starters. We think Parker was showing some slow improvement (he had 16 doubles and 8 triples in just 82 games) and Vreke is a blazer with some surprising power. Vreke actually hit .271 over 72 games while swiping 22 bags and playing great defense at CF. For a 45 win team, that's like MVP numbers right there.

- We are expecting our rotation to include Potter, Larivee, Mueller, Troy Clark and Jermaine Taylor.

Taylor might have finished with an ugly 2-9, 7.91 ERA. But he actually pitched well as the season went on. He previously could not get out of the 3rd inning. He pitched at least 6 innings in 5 of his last 6 starts and in those starts was effective.

It's not a bright future right now, but we are 100% behind our youth movement.

[Lintyfresh85]

This should be a very interesting playoffs.

[Jistic]

Excitement abound.

We finished with a sweep of Carolina. Herberholtz pitched two more gems of course only getting one win though because dude gets no run support. He's pitched well enough to win 20 games this year but his team sucks.

Since June 1st there simply isn't another SP in baseball that's been better than him. He's 11-3 with a 1.66 ERA in that time. Dude's had more no decisions than I can remember do to zero run support.

"Now we know why they call him Big" Jon hit three more bombs ending his rookie season with 28. Without the injury he easily would've hit 30. He'll have many more seasons to do that we hope.

Looking forward to the crazy postseason!

[Delandis]

Amazing. So proud of these guys to go out there and give themselves a chance.

We'd like send a big thank you out to the former Bulldog GM:

I really think you were hurt by your inability to acquire an impact starter at the deadline.

OH WAIT....

Doug Coates goes 2-0: 15 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB and 14 K.

'Preciate the bulletin board material.

[Delandis]

Clay do you know who's home?

[Clay]

Clay do you know who's home?

Nope. Game doesn't even show up yet. I'm guessing it's considered part of the Playoffs and we're still technically in the regular season still until the Division is settled.

My guess would be you (based on head to head), but the fact that in the WC standings I'm being listed first, it might be me.

Short answer (essay version) - I don't know.

[fsquid]

what a cool ending to the season.

[Clay]

So perfect that my bullpen blew Game 162 and forced us into a playoff. Perfect capper for the SI Season DVD.

[Delandis]

So perfect that my bullpen blew Game 162 and forced us into a playoff. Perfect capper for the SI Season DVD.

A better script couldn't be written though.

Baltimore 1-12 vs. Virginia in the playoffs. All they have to do is win one game.........

[funclown]

Pawtucket 4-3, 18-18 since Sept 1st? What a bunch of dumbasses. I blame Art Yeandle.

Saucido finishes batting .294. Slap hitter so won't end up being a NewBrew winner, but hoping he does get some votes.

Overlooked offseason trade: If Indy doesn't trade Shumway to Maine does Indy make the playoffs and Maine ends up staying home? iMO, this trade altered to landscape in the DL this season.